Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Jul 1925

Vol. 12 No. 17

ESTIMATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. - SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES (RAILWAYS).

Mr. BLYTHE

I move:

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £65,674, ar a n-áirítear suim bhreise de £7,000, chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íochta an Mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhírta, 1926, chun íocaóochtanna f½ Acht na mBóthar Iarainn, 1924, fén the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, etc., agus chun crícheanna eile a bhaineann le Bóithre Iarainn in Eirinn.

That a sum not exceeding £65,674, including a supplementary sum of £7,000, be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1926, for payments under the Railways Act, 1924, Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, etc., and for other purposes connected with Irish Railways.

Mr. O'CONNELL

For the purpose of procedure, may I ask what has become of the motion before the House. I think it will be necessary to move to report progress.

The PRESIDENT

I understood there was a general agreement for the postponement of this particular head of the Vote for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce until to-morrow.

Mr. O'CONNELL

For the purposes of order would it not be necessary to have a motion to report Progress?

The PRESIDENT

It would not be necessary in the case of the postponement of a vote.

AN LEAS-CHEANN COMHAIRLE

There is nothing in the Standing Orders about moving to report progress when it is a question of the postponement of a Vote.

Mr. HEWAT

Are we going on now with the supplementary Estimate on the Railway Vote?

The PRESIDENT

Yes.

Mr. HEWAT

I suppose the Minister has nothing to say in introducing it.

The PRESIDENT

The Minister for Industry and Commerce spoke at some length on the question yesterday.

Mr. HEWAT

Yes, on the general question of the railways; he certainly did deal exhaustively both with the Press and the railways on the occasion of his very interesting statement. Now with regard to sub-head (e), payment for the acquisition of land, colliery railways, what position does that stand in? Are the payments that are being made total payments, or is it to be an annual expenditure on the railways concerned, Wolfhill and Castlecomer? In other words, is this a net account? I do not see any explanatory notes as regards these payments.

Mr. WILSON

I want to raise a question on sub-head (b), in connection with the Dublin and Blessington steam tram. I want to know have the Executive made up their minds as to what they will do with that line. Is there any means by which they will give an equivalent to what the other light railways received, or are they going to allow this whole line to be scrapped? It has gone into a state that it will be impossible to carry it on, and it is considered by residents that it will be a great loss to permit the line to go into disuse. I would like to hear if the Executive has anything to say in the matter.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

As to the Dublin and Blessington Tramway Company, I think I mentioned when dealing with the Railways' Act that we did not feel it incumbent upon us to search the country for all contrivances that ran on wheels to seek to include them in that Act. There was a certain selection made as to contrivances that should not come within the scope of the Act, and the Dublin and Blessington Tramway is one of these. When some amendment was moved with regard to the inclusion of the Dublin and Blessington Tramway, I pointed out that other matters than the fact of locomotion had to be taken into consideration, and that the natural joining for the Dublin and Blessington Tramway was with the Dublin United Tramways Company. I said that if there was a movement made in the direction of getting the Dublin United Tramways Company to consider the taking over of the Dublin and Blessington Tramway, I would do all I could to help. The matter was raised with the Dublin United Tramways Company, but they did not see their way to put up any proposition on that point. I cannot say that the Government have given much more serious consideration to this matter than was given prior to the introduction of the Act. There has been one movement made of approach to the Dublin United Tramways Company without any result, and that is the position we are in at present.

Mr. A. BYRNE

The same as the Lucan Tramway.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

As to sub-head (e), under which Deputy Hewat's question would come, the sum for this year shows an increase over the estimate of last year. It is expected that negotiations concerning the acquisition of the lands referred to should be completed in this financial year, and that the sum of £6,800 should be sufficient to discharge all liabilities in connection with the acquisition of the lands. There have been certain legal difficulties with regard to the matter, but it is hoped these will be completed. At any rate, that sum of money, if not spent this year and if carried forward, will be sufficient to do all that is necessary with regard to the acquisition of these lands.

Mr. HEWAT

It is what you call a capital sum. I take it this £6,800 will complete the purchase of the lands. One would like to criticise the whole transaction from an economic point of view, but I recognise that this Government had nothing to do with the project. We have just to take it as we find it and make the best of it.

Mr. WILSON

In connection with sub-head (e), I want to ask the Minister would it be a fair proposition to consider a quid pro quo for Wicklow, as there are seven or eight counties now receiving an Appropriation-in-Aid yearly in accordance with the Railways' Act. Would the Minister consider giving an equivalent sum for the Wicklow area affected by the Dublin and Blessington Tramway? It is only a question of money—I do not care how he gets it.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

To do what the Deputy suggests would require legislation. I do not know if the Deputy intends to bring in a Private Members' Bill.

Mr. WILSON

If I got a promise that it would be successful I would.

Mr. McGILLIGAN

The Deputy will have to appeal to the Dáil, not to me in this matter.

Vote put and agreed to.