Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Jul 1931

Vol. 39 No. 17

In Committee on Finance. - Vote 5: Office of the Minister for Finance.

Minister for Finance (Mr. Blythe)

I move:

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £41,328 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 Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig an Aire Airgid, maraon le hOifig an Phághmháistir Ghenerálta.

That a sum not exceeding £41,382 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 the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Finance, including the Paymaster-General's Office.

Mr. MacEntee

I had proposed originally on this Estimate to consider the conduct of the Minister for Finance in relation to a number of undertakings and responsibilities which he has, and particularly I had proposed to discuss the circumstances under which the Agricultural Credit Corporation had made its last issue of stock. I will, however, reserve what I have to say in that connection for another occasion, because I understand that the House is anxious to discuss the motion which stands in the name of the Minister for External Affairs in relation to the Imperial Conference, and is anxious to have as much time as may be required for that matter. For that reason I do not intend to do more than formally move the amendment which stands in my name, that the Estimate be referred back for reconsideration.

Mr. T.J. O'Connell

There is a question I should like to ask the Minister under sub-head G, with regard to the payment for services rendered by the actuary in connection with the Teachers' Pensions Fund. I am anxious to know what is the present situation with regard to that fund. The Minister will recollect that he had some interviews with the representatives of the teachers' organisation, and on the occasion of the last interview, which took place in February or March, 1930, there was a promise given that the Minister would make certain inquiries, and thereafter would call the teachers' representatives together again and make certain proposals to them. I understand that there have been very great delays in getting the necessary information from the Minister and I asked him questions a couple of times in the House as to what the position is. Many people are interested to know what progress has been made in the matter and how soon the Minister hopes to carry out the promise which he gave in March, 1930, namely, to place definite proposals before the representatives of the teachers.

Mr. Blythe

With reference to the point raised by Deputy O'Connell, as he has already been informed the report of the actuary has been under consideration in the Department of Finance and the Department of Education, and in the course of that consideration it was felt necessary to ask a further question of the actuary with regard to the peak load. It is not that we have any reason to reject or to doubt the accuracy of the estimate given by the actuary on the peak load, but in fact, his estimate was very much higher than the Departments anticipated it would be, and in connection with that he was supplied with additional figures, and he was asked a further question, and his reply is being awaited. There was also another question in regard to a minor point, which the actuary had not answered in his first report. That also is an answer that is expected very shortly. It is hoped that when these two points put to the actuary have been replied to, nothing will remain in doubt, and it will be possible for us to put into final form the proposals which have been under consideration, and to submit them in whatever way we think best, both tactfully and otherwise, for consideration.

Question—"That the Vote be referred back for reconsideration"—put and negatived.

Original question agreed to.