asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce to state (a) the amount chargeable to date by the Great Southern Railways in connection with or arising out of the Drumm Battery and Drumm Battery experimental trains; (b) the cost of crection and equipping of charging stations, and whether these costs were included in the figures already given of money spent to date, and if he can state the total cost to date under all heads, such figure to include all items, whether paid, unpaid, or not yet requested.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Railway Charges and the Drumm Battery Trains.
I would refer the Deputy in the first instance to the figures given to him in reply to his question of 18th November, 1931. These figures referred only to expenditure by and liabilities of Celia, Ltd., and, therefore, did not include any item for charging stations.
In a previous statement to the Dáil on the 22nd November, 1930, I referred to payments by way of indemnity that might have to be given to the Great Southern Railways Company. No claim by way of indemnity has as yet been made by the Railways Company. While I am not aware of the exact amount of the possible claims, I have been informed that in amount they will not exceed the sum mentioned by me in my statement referred to above.
What figure was it the Minister said they would not exceed?
I think it would be better for the Deputy to look it up. As far as I recollect, I think I said £20,000 or £25,000; I am not sure which.