I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £2,000 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1951, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Houses of the Oireachtas, including certain Grants-in-Aid.
The total sum required is £6,000. Of that amount £4,300 is required for the travelling expenses of Deputies and £1,700 for the travelling expenses of Senators. Savings, which will be found on other sub-heads, amount to £4,000. I can only explain the increase by putting it in these words. There has been an increase in the amount of travelling to attend meetings of the Dáil and Seanad. More members of both Houses are using private motor cars in preference to public transport and both Senators and Deputies have been in the habit of travelling, even while the Dáil or Seanad is in session, as against coming up, if they have to come up for the week, and remaining in Dublin for that week.