Vol. 106 No. 6
I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £3,200 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st day of March, 1948, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Secretary to the President, and for certain other Expenses of the President's Establishment (No. 24 of 1938).
The estimated provision, £4,800, shows a slight increase of £200 on last year's figure, due to the increase of staff costs following consolidation and an anticipated increase in the expenditure on telephones and in miscellaneous petty cash expenses.
It was intimated on a previous occasion that it was proposed to carry out considerable improvements in the Lodge in the Park.
Is the Deputy moving the motion in the name of Deputy Murphy to refer back the Estimate?
No.
I take it that that motion is not being moved.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the material will be secured to enable that job to be completed during the current year? The reason I raise the matter is that it is not good finance to make provision in the Estimates for collection of taxation and then have the money going back to revenue at the end of the financial year. This happened on many occasions during the past few years, especially during the emergency. Large sums of money have been, included in the Estimates for the carrying out of works which were not carried out because the necessary materials could not be secured. Is the Parliamentary Secretary in a position to give an assurance that the extensive alterations which are being provided for in the establishment in the Park will be carried out before the end of the financial year?
The Deputy has got away with it all right. Not a halfpenny is provided in this Estimate for that purpose. The Deputy missed the tide last night, when the matter could properly have been raised.
Not very long ago, at a special function, a certain person was mentioned as attached to the President's establishment known as a "lady-in-waiting". I should like to know if there is such an appointment and what the salary attached to it is.
That does not arise on this Estimate.
