Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Jul 1938

Vol. 72 No. 3

Committee on Finance. - Vote No. 6—Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Mr. MacEntee

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £573,771 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá dé Mhárta, 1939, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí Oifig na gCoimisinéirí Ioncuim, maraon le Seirbhísí áirithe eile atá fé riaradh na hOifige sin.

That a sum not exceeding £573,771 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, 1939, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, including certain other Services administered by that office.

Mr. Brennan

Can the Minister explain the necessity for the increase in this Vote? There is an increase of practically £40,000. Can the Minister tell us why this increase is necessary at the present time? Is there any real necessity for it? Are our revenues increasing to the same extent? What is the actual reason for the increase?

An Ceann Comhairle

The Minister to conclude.

Mr. MacEntee

The principal items which are responsible for the increase of £30,000 under sub-head A are the cost-of-living bonus, £22,700; the Accountant-General's office, where there has been an increase of £2,400 in the basic provision; and the office of the Chief Inspector of Customs and Excise, where there has been an increase of £9,200 in the basic provision. As against that, there has been a saving in certain of the Departments, and a reduced provision for overtime and extra attendance of £10,700, making a net increase under sub-head A, which I presume is the one to which the Deputy has referred, of £23,600. As I have said, that is mostly beyond our control. It is due entirely to the operation of the cost-of-living factor.

Mr. Brennan

I think the figures do not bear out that contention about the cost-of-living bonus.

Mr. MacEntee

The cost-of-living bonus accounts for £22,700.

Mr. Brennan

My figures give £27,653, as against £25,883 last year. That is less than £2,000. I am taking sub-head A.

Mr. MacEntee

I think the Deputy will find that my figures are right.

Mr. Brennan

I am taking the figures on page 18 of the Estimates.

Mr. MacEntee

There is a net increase of £23,600, of which £22,700 is entirely due to the cost-of-living bonus.

Vote put and agreed to.