The Estimate for 1938-39 was £4,048, and for 1939-40 it is £3,602, being a decrease of £446. Under the Constitution provision is made for the President to receive such emoluments and allowances as may be determined by law. These emoluments and allowances are charged upon the Central Fund. In the Vote for the President's Establishment, provision is made for what may be described as the Civil Service side of the President's Establishment—that is for the salaries and expenses of the office of the Secretary to the President— together with certain minor and petty expenses and certain capital expenditure which are estimated at £3,602 in all. The decrease of £446 in the total Estimate is attributable to the reduced provision required in connection with motor car accommodation for the President—sub-head E—and to reduction in the sums provided under sub-heads B, C and D. The total of these reductions, £1,200, is offset by an increase of £754 under sub-head A. Under sub-head A—Salaries, Wages and Allowances—provision is made for the Secretary to the President. This officer's appointment dates from the 29th December, 1937. A scale of salary has not been fixed for the post, but the present holder has a personal scale of £1,000 — £50 — £1,200, plus bonus.
Sub-head B has to do with travelling expenses. The amount is £75. The provision under this sub-head is intended to cover the travelling expenses and subsistence allowance of the staff of the Secretary's office. Although the President will ordinarily travel by car, for the running or maintenance of which no allowance will be paid to him from this Vote, provision has been made here for the possible payment of expenses when other modes of conveyance—such as, by train—may be used by the President on exceptional occasions.
Sub-head E has to do with motor cars—Replacement Grant (£300). Provision was made in the Vote for 1938-39 (sub-head E—Purchase of Motor Cars) for the purchase of motor cars to be placed at the disposal of the President, and it was the intention that a further annual sum was to be provided in subsequent years as a grant towards a Replacement Fund. During the past year, however, the matter was further considered and it was decided, in substitution for that arrangement, that the President himself should purchase the cars required for his use; that a grant of £300 should be made in 1938-39 as a contribution towards the purchase of cars, and that a grant at the rate of £300 a year should be made annually thereafter as a contribution towards the cost of their replacement. The sub-head, accordingly, provides for a Replacement Grant of £300 for the year 1939-40.
In connection with the Estimate for 1938-39, the Minister himself suggested in the Dáil that the title "President's Establishment" of this Vote was somewhat misleading, as the emoluments and allowances of the President provided for in the Constitution, and determined by the President's Establishment Act, 1938, are charged upon the Central Fund. The point has been fully considered departmentally and, for the following reasons, inter alia, it has been decided by the Minister to allow the existing title of the Vote to remain unaltered.
The present title is more strictly accurate and covers all items in the Estimate, whereas "President's Secretariat" would not cover the motor car or train travelling by the President, and would probably not cover telegrams and telephones, which, strictly speaking, are used on the President's business, or other incidentals of that character. I think that is all that arises on this Vote.
