asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce to state whether the first experimental Drumm Battery train is still functioning and giving satisfaction, and if he has any statement to make with regard to its general operations and behaviour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Drumm Battery.
The first experimental coach was constructed for special tests, which were carried out last year. The results were entirely satisfactory. The coach was subsequently put into use by the Great Southern Railways Company on a service on which it was frequently severely overloaded. Its operation under these conditions has confirmed the previous special tests.
And it is still running?
I do not know about that. I suppose it is.
The purpose of my question is, as the Minister is aware, to see if this battery is getting the test required to satisfy the Minister as to the life of the battery.
There is no difficulty about that.
We may take it then that the coach is going to function?
There were very fine points in connection with that, but there is no doubt a test is being carried out on that coach as to the life of the battery. There was a period of a week or two when owing to an accident it was not working, but the test is being carried out on that coach with regard to the life of the battery.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what amount to date has been advanced to the concern, Celia, Ltd., for all purposes, including the development of the Drumm Battery experimental trains; and further, if he can state what liabilities have accrued to date to be met by payments from State funds.
The total amount advanced to date out of public funds to Celia, Ltd., for all purposes in connection with electrical battery development is £22,700; this includes sums amounting to £5,300 in the aggregate advanced in previous financial years out of the Contingency Fund and not repayable out of the Vote for Electrical Battery Development. The total amount of liabilities of Celia, Ltd., accrued at the present date and remaining undischarged by the company is £4,300, approximately, against which a sum of £600, approximately, is held in cash by the company.
Would those figures include the cost of the charging stations at Amiens Street and at Bray?
They would include everything for which the company is being charged.
It does not include the charges which the Great Southern Railways will probably bring against the Minister eventually, if, in the words of the Minister, the battery does not prove a success?
That is another question. I could not answer that question now, but that is not the question that I have been asked by the Deputy.
We do not know whether the costs of the charging station at Amiens Street and Bray are included in these figures or whether there are other charges which will come from the Great Southern Railways.
The Deputy did not ask me that question.
I asked the Minister for all charges that have accrued to date, whether paid now or accruing.
I answered the question the Deputy asked me.
And those charges do not include any claims which may be brought by the Great Southern Railways as to the building of the coaches?
I think the Deputy had better frame his questions precisely.
I will put down a question next week and will frame it precisely. I hope that the Minister will then be more helpful than he has been now.
I always answer the question as well as I can. The Deputy should be able to frame his question precisely.