Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 1933

Vol. 48 No. 10

In Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 11—Public Works and Buildings.

Mr. MacEntee

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £500 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1934, chun caiteachais i dtaobh Foirgintí Puiblí; chun coinneáil-suas Páirceanna agus Oibreacha Puiblí áirithe; agus chun déanamh agus coinneáil-suas Oibreacha Dréineála.

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £500 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1934, for expenditure in respect of Public Buildings; for the maintenance of certain Parks and Public Works; and for the execution and maintenance of Drainage Works.

The necessity for this supplementary estimate arises out of an agreement which has recently been reached with the Gaelic League for their immediate evacuation of 25, Parnell Square, in consideration of an ex gratia payment of £500. By an agreement with our predecessors, the Christian Brothers had decided to establish an all-Irish secondary school in Dublin. For this purpose the premises 23, 24, 25 and 26 Parnell Square, which were Government property, were to be handed over to them, upon certain terms and conditions which it is not necessary for the purpose of this Vote to recapitulate. When notice to quit was served on the Gaelic League they objected to the termination of their tenancy of 25, Parnell Square, without compensation, their principal grievance being that the loss of the hall at the rere of No. 25 would seriously cripple their activities, and that they had not the funds which would enable them to build another suitable hall elsewhere.

As a result of investigation of the legal position the Government came to the conclusion that the Gaelic League might be able to establish some claim to a new tenancy. The Gaelic League, on the other hand, felt confident that they would so establish a claim, but at the same time it must be said that they were not anxious to impede in any way the fulfilment of the Government's intention to establish an all-Irish secondary school here in Dublin. Accordingly the Attorney-General and the Minister for Finance met a deputation from the Gaelic League, and came to an amicable arrangement that the premises would be evacuated on payment to the Gaelic League of the sum of £500. In that connection I should like to make it clear to the Dáil that when this matter was under consideration between the representatives of the Gaelic League and myself I had not in mind the fact that certain obligations of the League in respect of rates on the hall for the current year had not been discharged. I do not think the representatives of the Gaelic League had that in mind either, so it may be necessary for me to meet them in regard to that matter also. However, a difficulty which might have led to a good deal of protracted litigation, affording little satisfaction to either party, because the assertion of the claims of the one party as against the other was going to impede the establishment of an all-Irish school which both parties were anxious to see set on foot here at the earliest possible moment, has been very satisfactorily settled by this agreement to pay the League £500, and I confidently recommend it to the Dáil.

General Mulcahy

The Minister speaks of the Government's intention to establish an all-Irish secondary school here in Dublin. I think the Minister's information is somewhat out of date. The proposal on the part of the Christian Brothers is that the all-Irish secondary school for boys, which they have already established in 6, Harcourt Street, is to be taken from 6, Harcourt Street, and established in Parnell Square.

Mr. MacEntee

Possibly I ought to have said a suitable all-Irish secondary school. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the premises at 6, Harcourt Street were regarded as temporary premises only.

General Mulcahy

I just wanted to correct the Minister on that particular point. The premises at 6, Harcourt Street were intended to be simply temporary premises, and the change is not the establishment of a new secondary school but really the transfer to more suitable surroundings of the one that had already been established in 6, Harcourt Street.

Mr. Nally

Could the Minister tell us what rent was being paid to the Commissioners of Public Works for those buildings by the late occupants?

Mr. MacEntee

The Gaelic League were paying for the premises, 25 Parnell Square, £115 per annum.

Mr. McMenamin

Has the rent been paid for the current year?

Mr. MacEntee

Yes.

Mr. Minch

Again I make an appeal to Deputies to speak up. Those of us who are sitting on the Olympian heights cannot hear at all.

Mr. MacEntee

I think the Deputy ought to change his seat. I am not generally accused of speaking too low.

Mr. Coburn

Might I ask the Minister if this £500 is legally due, or whether it is by way of an ex gratia grant? Is it, in his opinion, legally due?

Mr. MacEntee

I have been advised that it is a matter of great doubt as to whether the Gaelic League would not, under the Town Tenants Act, 1931, be able to establish a claim for a new tenancy. Accordingly, in order to avoid vexatious proceedings, which would, as I have said, yield little satisfaction to either party, this payment of £500 is made as an ex gratia payment in settlement of all claims the Gaelic League may have to the premises.

Mr. Esmonde

I am anxious to know if this is a suitable opportunity for the purpose of raising a question in reference to accommodation for Deputies and other members of the Oireachtas.

An Ceann Comhairle

It would not be in order on this particular estimate, which is restricted to a sum of £500 for a specific purpose.

Vote agreed to.