Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Feb 1938

Vol. 70 No. 2

Committee on Finance. - Vote 6—Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Minister for Finance (Mr. MacEntee)

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £10,500 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1938, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig na gCoimisinéirí Ioncuim, maraon le Seirbhísí áirithe eile atá fé riaradh na hOifige sin.

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £10,500 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1938, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, including certain other Services administered by that Office.

The increased provision necessary is set out in sub-heads A and JJ.

Mr. Dillon

Perhaps the Minister will give some slight elaboration as to the necessity of motor cars on frontier control, particularly when it relates to his own Department.

Mr. MacEntee

This is necessary in order to provide for the purchase of motor cars for the use of the preventive staff. The cars are required to replace an equivalent number of cars which are worn out or obsolete. No provision for the purchase of new cars was included in the current year's Vote. The occasion for replacement took place at various dates depending on when members of the preventive staff were sufficiently trained to drive the original cars. It was thought at the date when this particular service was inaugurated that the average life of cars engaged in patrolling the frontier would be 66,000 miles, but the very severe nature of the work and the bad roads — as Deputies understand they are mostly by-roads — over which they are frequently required to travel caused wear and tear, so that the necessity of renewing them has fallen earlier than was anticipated.

Mr. Dillon

Perhaps the Minister could tell us whether these cars are intended for chasing cattle out of Ireland and butter into Ireland, or is that a tactless question?

Mr. MacEntee

I leave the Deputy to exert his imagination on that.

Vote agreed to and reported.