Vol. 99 No. 16
I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £400 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1946, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Houses of the Oireachtas including a Grant-in-Aid.
The provision in this Vote for the travelling expenses of Deputies is likely to be exceeded by about £1,400. There will be a saving of about £1,000 and this Supplementary Estimate is to make good the difference of £400 for travelling expenses of Deputies. I do not expect there will be any protest on that head.
How is the figure of £1,000—savings on other sub-heads not quoted—arrived at?
The amount represents savings in respect of the salaries of Deputies—some seats that were not filled for a period—and travelling expenses of members of the Seanad were not as large as we anticipated. There was also the contribution to the Inter-Parliamentary Union and a saving on the contribution to the restaurant. From all these sources a saving of £1,000 will be effected, leaving to be provided a sum of £400.
What is the amount of the saving on the Restaurant?
It is not important, so long as there is a saving.
It is very important.
And it is important that we should have an opportunity of ventilating our grievances in that matter.
It is not in order to discuss it now.
We will have to get an opportunity some time. Members of the Committee have been endeavouring for years to bring before the House the grievances which each member suffers in connection with the catering arrangements.
I understand that there is a Joint Committee which looks after these matters.
And which never meets.
Surely, the Department of Finance cannot be blamed for that?
We can blame it for giving a subsidy to an ill-managed Restaurant.
No money is being granted by this Supplementary Estimate for the Restaurant, and accordingly the matter cannot be discussed.
I asked the Parliamentary Secretary for details of the savings on the different sub-heads as they are not set out on the Estimate. I am very glad to hear that there is a saving on the subsidy to the Restaurant, because I do not think we should be giving any subsidy.
There should be a huge profit on what they charge Deputies.
Why is there an increase of £1,400 in travelling expenses?
The Dáil meets on certain days at a certain hour, and, as a rule, Deputies travel by train, or used to do so when travelling conditions were somewhat different from what they are to-day, and what they have been for the last 12 months or two years. For some time, it was possible for Deputies to use their cars, and these cars were used for long distances, with the result that travelling expenses were somewhat greater than they should normally be. The number of sittings were also greater than in the previous year. These are the main contributing factors to the increase. I thought that, on account of this being a matter which concerned ourselves, we would not be too critical of these matters.
We are not so good to ourselves at all. I am not personally affected at the moment, but I should like to know whether the rule governing the allowances to Deputies for travelling in their own cars has been changed, because I remember the time—I think it is still in operation— when a civil servant or official of a local authority got 6d. a mile while my allowance for my own car worked out at about 1½d. per mile. As a matter of fact, I think the Department of Finance at one stage had a regulation that a Deputy's claim for motor allowance could not exceed the price of his rail ticket. I want to know if that regulation still operates, because, if it does, I cannot see how the Parliamentary Secretary's explanation covers the increase.
I am sorry if I have been a little provocative and if, as a result of being so, I have gathered round my head a number of questions which I am not in a position to answer. I can only blame myself for it. I cannot answer the question put by Deputy Morrissey.
I will not press it.
I am only telling the House that, so far as my brief informs me, the increase arises for the reasons I have given, and I am sure these are quite accurate.
I want to have it made clear, because I can foresee certain people down the country saying: "Those fellows are growing fat again on it". The allowance works out about 1½d. a mile. That used to be the average.
I was trying to anticipate what they were going to say to-morrow and the Deputy had better let me away with it, if he can.
Let me put one other point, which I have been putting to Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers for Finance for about 24 years. When, if ever, will the Department of Finance do away with the present voucher system and see to it that Deputies will get an ordinary railway pass, the same as anybody else? I do not want to press the Parliamentary Secretary on it now, but if this matter has not been taken up recently with C.I.E., will he have a note made and see whether it could be taken up now? I think all Deputies will agree with it.
Tá go maith.
