I move:—
Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £1,430,394 chun slánuithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1944, chun Tuarastail agus Costaisí an Ghárda Síochána (Uimh. 7 de 1925, Uimh. 10 de 1926 agus Uimh. 5 de 1937 agus Uimh 19 de 1941); agus chun Costaisí áirithe na gCaomhnóirí Aitiúla ar a n-áirmhítear Deontaisí-i-gCabhair (Uimh. 28 de 1939).
That a sum not exceeding £1,430,394, be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 1944, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Gárda Síochána (No. 7 of 1925, No. 10 of 1926, No. 5 of 1937 and No. 19 of 1941); and for certain Expenses of the Local Security Force including Grants-in-Aid (No. 28 of 1939)."
The net Estimate is for £2,178,394— an increase of £104,979 on the amount provided for the year 1942-43. The provision made for the emergency bonus granted to nearly all the members of the Force is £129,346, so that but for this item there would actually have been a decrease of nearly £25,000 in the net estimate. The sub-heads which show substantial increases are— Salaries, Wages and Pay: there is an increase of £103,858 caused by the grant of the emergency bonus. The bonus is 7/- a week, and it is payable to all members whose total weekly remuneration does not exceed £7 13s. The civilian clerical staff at headquarters and the subordinate staff-cleaners, etc.—have also been granted a bonus involving an extra payment of £937. Sub-head B—Allowances: An increased boot allowance—from £2 to £2 15s. per annum—is responsible for an increase of £3,088 on this sub-head. Sub-head C—Subsistence Allowance: The rates of these allowances have been increased, with the result that an increase of £1,500 in the provision is necessary. Sub-head D—Locomotion Expenses: The increase here is £8,600. Of this amount, £8,100 is due to an increase in the rate of cycle allowance from £2 10s. to £4 per annum. Sub-head E—Clothing and Equipment: There is an increase of £25,879 arising from the fact that no provision was made in 1942-43 for frocks, trousers, caps, chevrons and badges, as the wear of these items of uniform had been extended.
The main decreases are: Sub-head H—Transport and Carriage: There is a fall in this sub-head of £16,680. No provision is made for replacement of motor transport, for which £13,285 was provided in 1942-43. Sub-head M— Compensation: There is a decrease of £3,000. The Estimate is based on the expenditure for the six months ended 30th September, 1942, but any estimate in this matter must be conjectural. Sub-head O—Local Security Force, Expenses: There is a decrease of £23,468 due to the fact that it is not possible to obtain supplies of uniform cloth.
Sub-head R—Appropriation in Aid— shows a reduction of £4,090. It is estimated that the repayments of sums advanced to officers to enable them to purchase cars for use on duty will be lower than in 1942-43 by £1,350 and that the payment from the Road Fund will be £2,000 less.