I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £1,950 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1945, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Marine Service (Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1939, and the Foreshore Act, 1933 (No. 12 of 1933)); for certain payments in respect of Compensation, including extra wages of seamen and the cost of medical treatment; and for payments in respect of the provision of certain Protective Equipment for Ships.
The Supplementary Estimate arises by reason of deficiencies in certain sub-heads: sub-head F of the Vote, relating to wreck and salvage; sub-head I, relating to war compensation for seamen; and sub-head J, relating to the protection of ships against magnetic mines. The preparation of an Estimate in respect of wreck and salvage, as Deputies will appreciate, is a matter of considerable difficulty. In fact the quantity of wreck which came ashore, or was brought ashore from the sea, was substantially more than was anticipated, involving the payment of increased sums to the salvers and involving incidentally an increase in the Appropriations-in-Aid of the Vote arising out of the disposal of the wreckage.
As the Dáil is aware, the Government has undertaken the obligation of paying compensation in respect of seamen who lose their lives upon Irish vessels by reason of any cause attributable to the war. The provision made in that respect for the year proved inadequate, due to a decision made in May last to increase the rates of pensions and allowances. Furthermore, the position with regard to an Irish vessel, the Ardmore, which was lost on a voyage from Cork, was that a decision as to the cause of the loss had not been arrived at when the Estimate was prepared. The Shipping Federation was making provisional payments to the widows and children of the crew, but it was only during the course of the year that it was decided to accept the loss of the vessel as due to warfare and to recoup to the Shipping Federation the amount paid in pensions to the widows of the crew.
The only other item is that in respect of the protection of vessels against magnetic mines. The work, which is paid for by the Government, was completed on all our vessels some time ago, but one shipping company was unable to present the account for the equipment until this financial year and the recoupment to that company of the cost of the equipment was not possible until the account was presented. These are the three items in respect of which a deficiency has arisen and for which the supplementary sum is required.