This Vote, although a large one, does not embody any new policy which is not familiar to Deputies, and, therefore, it is not necessary for me to make a lengthy statement. I can reply later to any particular points which may be raised. The general position is that there is a certain average standing expenditure which is necessary and will always remain necessary for the maintenance of buildings, parks and harbours which are vested in the Government, for grants towards buildings and altering national schools, and for such new post offices, Gárda Síochána barracks, revenue offices and other Government buildings as may from time to time be required; and in addition to this average continuing charge we have this year large special and exceptional expenditure for three purposes:—(1) the housing of the Gárda Síochana; (2) the restoration of three great monumental buildings in Dublin, the Four Courts, the General Post Office, and the Custom House; (3) arterial drainage works. That is the general explanation of the large size of the Vote this year.
I will now go briefly through the several sub-heads of the Vote. Under sub-head A—Purchase of Sites and Buildings—there is an increase of £11,000. This increase is on account of the housing of the Gárda Síochána. The cost of building is still high in the Saorstát, though not so high as it was two years ago, and it is often cheaper to buy a house for a Gárda barrack than to build. It is also quicker, which is an important point. When we can, we prefer to rent houses or take them on lease rather than buy. Rents are shown under sub-head E. But many owners of houses refuse to let and will only sell, and it is, of course, cheaper to buy at a reasonable price than to pay a high rent. Naturally we only buy houses at those stations which the Department of Justice assure us will be permanent stations of the Gárda.
Sub-head AA—Annuities—these annuities, as shown in the details, p. 40, of the Estimates, are partly for the site and building of the College of Science and partly for certain military barracks. The annuity for the College runs till 1933, but that for the military barracks stops at the end of 1926-27.
Under sub-head B—New Works— there is an increase of £252,825. This is the most important sub-head, and shows the largest increase, but as Deputy Cooper is moving reduction, I will reserve anything I have to say on the details till I reply to him. I have already indicated the principal causes of the increase. Under sub-head C— Maintenance and Supplies—there is an increase of £4,485. The size of this sub-head naturally depends on two things, the number of buildings we have to maintain and the level of prices in the building trade. At present the numbers of buildings are tending to increase, because certain departments are growing, for example, the Revenue Department, and also because landlords of rented buildings are more reluctant than they used to be to undertake the obligation of maintaining them, and therefore, the Government, as tenant, has to undertake it; this applies particularly to rented barracks of the Gárda Síochána. Prices in the building trade appear to be nearly stationary, with perhaps a slight tendency to fall. Under sub-head D—Furniture, etc.—there is a decrease of £652.
Under sub-head E—Rents, &c.— there is an increase of £9,521. The increase is principally due to the housing of the Gárda Síochána and to rents for agricultural institutions, which are shown on this Vote for the first time— last year they were in the Department of Agriculture Vote. Under sub-head EE—Compensation for Premises Commandeered by the Army—there is a decrease of £45,000. This service is coming to an end, though new claims are still received from time to time, and there are considerable difficulties in coming to terms with a certain number of the claimants. Under sub-head F— Fuel, Light, Water, &c.—there is a decrease of £724. The principal factor in the amount of this sub-head is the cost of coal, and the future cost of coal is very speculative. But we bought considerable quantities before the present dispute in Great Britain began. Sub-heads G, H and I are matters of detail Under sub-heads J 1, J 2, J 3 and J4— Arterial Drainage—there is a total increase of £56,190. As the Committee are aware, these sub-heads provide for that part of the cost of arterial drainage schemes which is provided by the Government as free grants, while the Local Loans Vote provides the rest. The general policy on which these schemes are based is familiar to Deputies, and I rather gather from the debate on the Local Loans Vote yesterday that we shall be attacked for slowness in spending rather than for spending too much.
I will, therefore, deal by way of reply with any points which may be raised. Sub-head K is a matter of detail. Under sub-head L—Acquisition of a Bucket-Dredger—there is an increase of £15,000. This is a special transaction in the nature of a capital expenditure. The Commissioners of Public Works at present maintain three dredgers of different kinds—one bucket-dredger, one grab dredger, and one suction dredger. All are useful for different purpose and for different kinds of sea bottom. The bucket dredger is the most generally useful and is in most demand. The dredgers are used first to maintain harbours vested in the Board of Works—Dun Laoghaire, Howth and Dunmore East; secondly, to be let on hire to harbour authorities in the Saorstát—this is a great benefit to harbour authorities, because the terms of hire are lower than they could obtain elsewhere; thirdly, to carry out works of dredging where the Government is aiding harbours by means of free grants. Two such grants are being made at the present time, one at Burtonport, in County Tirconaill, and the other at Dingle, in the County Kerry.
The bucket-dredger will be occupied the whole of this summer, and perhaps a part of next summer, at these two places, and meantime her services are in request elsewhere. Also, the present bucket-dredger is an old boat, and before many years it will be more economical to replace her with a new one than to continue to maintain her. In these circumstances the Government decided to anticipate the replacement by a few years and to buy a second bucket-dredger while the first is still in active use. Under sub-head M— Appropriations-in-Aid—there is an increase of £159,350. This increase is principally due to a payment estimated at £150,000 from the Property Losses Compensation Vote for the restoration of Government buildings, principally Gárda Síochána barracks and the three great buildings in Dublin. There is also an increase of £8,100 under the item Tolls and Dues for the increased dues which it is proposed to charge on passenger steamers at Dun Laoghaire.