I move:—
Go n-aontuíonn Dáil Eireann leis an Ordú um Chongnamh Airgid (Air-Rianta Teóranta) (Uimh. 2), 1939, do rinne an tAire Airgeadais fé Alt 79 den Acht um Aer-Loingseoireacht agus Aer-Iompar, 1936 (Uimh. 40 de 1936), an 14adh lá de Mheitheamh, 1939, agus do leagadh fé bhráid Dháil Eireann an 15adh lá de Mheitheamh, 1939.
That Dáil Eireann approves of the Subsidy (Aer-Rianta, Teóranta) (No. 2) Order, 1939, made under Section 79 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1936 (No. 40 of 1936), by the Minister for Finance on the 14th day of June, 1939, and laid before Dáil Eireann on the 15th day of June, 1939.
One of the provisions of the Air Navigation and Transport Act is that an order made by the Minister for Finance concerning the annual subsidy paid to the Air Transport Company covered by that Act must be confirmed by a resolution of Dáil Eireann within a stated period. This motion is, therefore, submitted for the approval of the Dáil. A similar order, made last year, was approved by a similar motion. The amount required for the purpose of the subsidy has already been voted by the Dáil in the Estimate for the Department of Industry and Commerce. Last year the amount provided was £33,000. This year the order provides for a total subsidy not exceeding £40,150. The amount is larger this year because some extensions of the operations of the company are contemplated, and also because it is proposed to purchase new machines in connection with the extensions of the company's operations. As the House is aware, there are, of course, two companies, Aer-Rianta, Teóranta, the National Air Transport Company, and the subsidiary to that, Aer-Lingus, Teóranta, which is operating the cross-Channel air service.
The activities of the operating company, Aer-Lingus, Teóranta, show substantial increases in the course of the past year. As compared with 1936, the number of miles flown increased from 151,000 to 385,000. The number of passengers carried increased from 1,300 to 4,987. The weight of goods carried increased from 6,000 lbs. avoirdupois, to 35,000 lbs. avoirdupois. The regularity of services has increased from 90.9 to 94.2 per cent. The figures show cause for optimism in regard to the future and they indicate that a very high standard of safety in operation and regularity in conduct has been secured by the company.
The company is not, of course, making any profits. It is not a feature of any air transport company at present that it operates without loss and most of the civil aviation companies of Europe are being conducted under Government subsidies. The percentage of the subsidy in relation to the total receipts is not higher in this country than in other European countries and is, in fact, substantially lower than in a number of countries where civil air transport has been in operation for a longer period of time than here.
