Dáil Éireann debate -
Friday, 25 Feb 1927

Vol. 18 No. 10

IN COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ESTIMATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES. - VOTE 56—OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.

Mr. BLYTHE

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim bhreise ná raghaidh thar dheich bpúint chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha a rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1927, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig an Aire Tionnscail agus Tráchtála, maraon le Moltóir agus Cúirteanna Réiteoirí, Síntiúisí do Chiste an Díomhaointis agus do Scéimeanna Speisialta, Iocaíochtanna le Comhlachais fé sna hAchtanna Arachais Díomhaointis, chun Roimh-íocanna d'íoc le lucht oibre fén Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, Táillí agus Costaisí na nDochtúirí Réitigh, fén Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, Táillí do Mháinleagha Deimhniúcháin fén Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, Táillí agus Costaisí fén Trade Boards Acts, 1909 and 1918; Táillí agus Costaisí fén Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, agus fén Gas Regulation Act, 1920, agus fén Weights and Measures Act, 1889, agus fós Costaisí mar gheall ar Chóghléasa Idirnáisiúnta an Oibreachais (Cumann na Náisiún) maraon le Deontas-i-gCabhair.

That a supplementary sum not exceeding ten pounds be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1927, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, including Umpire and Courts of Referees, Contributions to the Unemployment Fund and to Special Schemes, Payments to Associations under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, for advances to Workpeople under the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, Fees and Expenses of Medical Referees under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, Fees to certifying Surgeons under the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, Fees and Expenses under the Trade Boards Acts, 1909 and 1918, Fees and Expenses under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, and the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, and the Weights and Measures Act, 1889, also expenses in connection with the International Labour Organisation (League of Nations), including a Grant-in-Aid.

MINISTER for INDUSTRY and COMMERCE (Mr. McGilligan)

Despite all the Minister for Finance has said, the vote is really a supplementary Census Vote of £12,188. No provision had been made in the estimate for my Department for 1926-27 on account of the Census, because when we were facing the preparation of the estimates the Statistics Act had not been passed, and nobody could decide as to whether the Department of Industry and Commerce or the Department of Local Government would, in fact, be responsible for the compilation of the Census. How the £12,000 is arrived at is detailed on the face of the estimate, and particulars are given with regard to the extra staff required. Outside that there are really only two large items which are bulked in one sum in the estimates. One is an amount of £3,200 which is to be paid to the Department of Justice in respect of work performed by the Gárda Síochána. The other big item is in respect of the services of a machine expert amounting to £390. It is, however, to be noticed that the only earlier amount voted by this House in respect to the last Census was a sum of £800 which was included in the 1925-26 Appropriation Account. There is now this supplementary estimate of £12,188, which is only to meet such payments arising out of the Census as fall to be paid in the present financial year. There will be additional sums required in the forthcoming estimates.

Mr. JOHNSON

Can the Minister give us any information as to when the result of all this will likely be forthcoming?

Mr. McGILLIGAN

As to that, I am afraid that I am not in any better position than I was when last questioned. I think I said then that a provisional estimate with regard to population would appear. That, of course, has appeared. A definite and final statement with regard to population will be the next thing probably to appear, but I do not expect that for some months yet. I do not believe it will be ready before May or June. After that, volumes dealing with particular subjects ought to appear in fairly quick succession—but "fairly quick" has to be used in relation to the material to be handled. Month by month thereafter certain volumes will appear, but I have to throw myself on the indulgence of the Dáil with regard to this. I could easily have arranged to get out a simple type of enumeration and a rather elementary type of compilation such as have been produced elsewhere, but it was considered better to have the matter handled in a proper, way and have the volumes, when they appear, put up in such a way that there would be a definite advantage to the public in the volumes, that really should stand the test of examination, and in a way that people could get the best possible information from them.

That is my promise as to what is intended. It can only be judged when the volumes appear, but I still have to say that having made inquiries from time to time from the Statistics Branch as to the progress being made, and having been consulted as to the form in which the final compilations are to appear, I am still convinced that the judgment that will be passed eventually is that it was worth waiting the extra time in order to get the volumes in the form in which they will be presented. But I cannot do more than make promises and give certain estimates.

Vote put and agreed to.