Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Jun 1931

Vol. 39 No. 1

In Committee on Finance. - Vote 57—Railways.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. McGilligan)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £22,538 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1932, chun íocaíochtanna fé Acht na mBóthar Iarainn, 1924, fén Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, etc.; agus chun crícheanna eile a bhaineann le hIompar in Eirinn.

That a sum not exceeding £22,538 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, 1932, for payments under the Railways Act, 1924, the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, etc.; and for other purposes connected with Irish Transport.

This Vote is almost entirely statutory. The first three items are definitely so, and they all show decreases. The fourth item is more or less a token Vote. There may be certain expenses still to be incurred in connection with these, although there is no evidence yet that there will be any heavy expenditure at all. The next item, sub-head E, shows an increase this year. On sub-head L (a) the amount of money required to make good the deficit in working the Sligo and Belmullet steamer service was due to the fact that there is less traffic going on this subsidised service around the coast. If that continues we will have got to the point when it is clear that a subsidised service is no longer required. "Other services," covered by C amount to £50 to meet possible losses in connection with certain experimental services run by the Sligo and Belmullet steamer service around the coast in certain parts of Donegal.

Mr. Moore

Has the Minister any statement to make with regard to the reduction of the contribution in aid of the Dublin and Blessington trams? It appeared in the newspapers that a settlement had been reached in regard to the tramways.

Mr. McGilligan

Legislation is at the moment being prepared. I do not know when it will be actually in this House on account of the congestion in the draftsman's office, but a settlement has been arrived at between all the parties concerned. The main people concerned were the stockholders, and agreement was reached between the Committee of Management and the stockholders. It will be incorporated in legislation. It is expected that this is the last time this sum will appear on the Vote. It may not appear on the Vote if this scheme comes in in time.

Mr. Lemass

In connection with sub-head E., I see £50 for other services. Is that a token Vote or the actual amount of subsidy required?

Mr. McGilligan

It is by way of a token Vote. We have not enough experience of the service to be able to estimate with any degree of accuracy. Representations were made by certain merchants along the Donegal coast that they would give sufficient cargoes to make the cost of bringing a steamer around by Donegal pay. If that does not work out we will have to withdraw it. That £50 is to meet an odd loss here and there. It was not to subsidise the service for the area. It was simply meant that this steamer would make a certain number of trips. There was almost a guarantee given that there would be cargo to meet the extra fuel and the extra cost, and we are trying it out on that basis.

Vote put and agreed to.