Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 1927

Vol. 18 No. 5

ORDERS OF THE DAY. - SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

MINISTER for FINANCE (Mr. Blythe)

I move:—

Go dtugaidh an Dáil cead chun go dtabharfaí isteach na Meastacháin Bhreise seo a leanas i gcóir seirbhíse na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1927:—

Vótanna a 2 (Oireachtas), 7 (Pinsin tSean-Aoise), 26 (Muirearacha Dlí), 27 (Longlann Inis Sionnach), 35 (Cúirt Uachtarach agus Ard-Chúirt an Bhreithiúnais), 37 (Oifigigh Chúirte Cuarda), 50 (Scoileanna Ceartúcháin agus Saothair), 53 (An Ciste Foraoiseachta) (Deontas i gCabhair), 56 (Oifig an Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála), 57 (Bóithre Iarainn).

That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimates for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1927:—

Votes No. 2 (Oireachtas), 7 (Old Age Pensions), 26 (Law Charges), 27 (Haulbowline Dockyard), 35 (Supreme Court and High Court of Justice), 37 (Circuit Court Officers), 50 (Reformatory and Industrial Schools), 53 (Forestry Fund (Grant in Aid)), 56 (Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce), 57 (Railways).

I think that this finishes the very long list of Supplementary Estimates. The Supplementary Estimates on this list are, with just one exception, token estimates, although in certain cases sums that are of some importance are involved.

Vote No. 2 for the Oireachtas, is to provide a grant in aid for the Oireachtas restaurant and kitchen. It is a token vote, because we always provide in the Oireachtas Vote for the allowances to all members elected, whether they take their seats or not. The amount to be provided is £600 under the sub-head.

Vote 7 is the substantial one. The Supplementary Estimate would be for £40,000. Heretofore the numbers of Old Age Pensions have been declining fairly rapidly, and in each year's Estimates for the Old Age Pensions we allowed for that decline. This year the decline has not taken place. Consequently, the amount that was provided for in the original Estimate will not suffice. In Vote 26——Law Charges— there is a sum of £11,000. The main portion of that is to provide for a deposit in connection with the American litigation about Dáil Funds. That is a sum which will be recoverable.

Mr. JOHNSON

The recovery is not guaranteed?

Mr. BLYTHE

No, not quite guaranteed. Vote 27 is concerned with Haulbowline Dockyard. There is a sum of £1,000 required, because the military post has been abolished and a contribution which we got from the Army Fund is no longer available. Vote 35 is a token Vote of £10 for the Supreme Court and High Court of Justice. It is necessary because of the passage of the Court Officers Act. The people who were court officers have been abolished and have had their offices abolished, and they have been re-appointed under the recent Court Officers Act. It is not possible to pay them under the original Estimate passed by the Dáil.

Vote 37 — Circuit Court Officers — is for £2,000. That is because the original Estimate was cut too close and will not be sufficient to meet the charges, largely because several Assistant Circuit Judges had to be appointed. Vote 50 — Reformatory and Industrial Schools — is a token Vote required because of increased committals of children to reformatories, but the amount can be met from the other sub-heads of the Vote. Vote 53—Forestry Fund (Grant-in-Aid)—is a token Vote in order to bring to the notice of the Dáil the appropriation of a certain surplus in the Forestry Fund after 31st March to be expended on cultural operations. Vote 56—Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce — is a token Vote to enable the cost of the staff for Census work to be met. Vote 57 provides for a further grant of £1,500 to the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway. That completes the Supplementary Estimates.

Leave granted.

AN LEAS-CHEANN COMHAIRLE

When is it proposed to take the Votes?

Mr. BLYTHE

Next Tuesday.