It is probably unnecessary for me to refer to all the sub-heads of the Estimate, but, on the precedent of previous years, I will comment on those which show an appreciable variation from last year's provision. The increase of £66.558 in sub-head A—Pay—is due entirely to the increased rates of pay; actually, the net numbers provided for are lower than they were last year. The increase of £3,000 in sub-head A (1)—Military Educational Courses Abroad—is due to the fact that the opportunities for such courses are likely to be greater this year. Sub-head B—Marriage Allowance—shows an increase, having regard to the amount made available last year for the Vote for Increases in Remuneration, the actual increase is £27,330. There are two main reasons for this increase. The first is that a larger number of non-commissioned officers and men is expected to be eligible for marriage allowance this year. The second is that deductions in respect of the occupation of married quarters are now lower than they have been formerly. Up to recently, fuel was supplied to occupants of married quarters. That practice has now been discontinued and the charges for the occupation of quarters have been reduced.
I may take together sub-head C— Pay of Civilians attached to Units— and sub-head S—Barrack Maintenance and New Works, each of which shows a very substantial increase. The increase in each case is largely attributable to an expansion in the building and construction programme of the Corps of Engineers. Most of the military barracks are old and quite unsuitable by modern standards. Much of the accommodation is in the poorest condition and hopelessly uneconomic to maintain. An effort is being made to provide suitable living accommodation and amenities for personnel and to provide additional storage and other accommodation.
With such a backlag of essential work to be undertaken and having regard to the unemployment position last year, it was natural to look to the Army to undertake schemes which would serve a double purpose. A number of major works, including the provision of more than 80 houses for soldiers at Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin, are on hands. Three of these—an ordnance store at Cork, a gymnasium at Galway, and certain works at Naas Barracks—were to have been carried out by the Office of Public Works, but have been transferred, since the preparation of the Estimate, to the Corps of Engineers as the Office of Public Works saw no possibility of being able to make an early commencement on them. They are, therefore, not covered by the Estimate.
Sub-head E—Pay of Officers of the Medical Corps etc.—shows an increase of £3,776 over last year's Estimate, but against that must be offset an amount of £3,745 recovered last year from the Vote for Increases in Remuneration in respect of the sub-head. The increases in sub-head G—Subsistence and Other Allowances—and H —Transport of Troops—are caused principally by increased rates of subsistance and car allowances and increased rail and bus fares. The increase of £4,528 in sub-head L—Petrol and Oils—arises mainly from additional quantities of aviation spirit required in connection with the Air Corps short service pilot training scheme and the additional use of oils, grease, etc., in connection with the increased activities of the Corps of Engineers.
There is an increase of £20,554 in sub-head O—General Stores. As will be seen from the details of the sub-head, the principal increases are in signal equipment, camp equipment and workshop equipment. The increase under the heading of signal equipment arises from the necessity to provide maintenance spares for antiaircraft radar sets delivered last year and from the generally increased cost of maintenance of the considerable quantities of signal equipment now held in the Army. One of the principal factors in the increase under the heading of camp equipment is the replacement of 100,000 sandbags sent to England for the relief of flooding last year. The increase in workshop equipment is due to the necessity to replace a large quantity of tools and equipment which has been unserviceable through fair wear and tear.
Sub-head P (2)—Naval Service— which shows an increase of £78,320, contains provisions, under the heading of capital expenditure, for a sum of £25,000, the initial instalment on a small store and training ship which is estimated to cost £152,000. This will replace a vessel which was sold for scrap purposes a few years ago. The Naval Service does not, at present, possess a vessel suitable for the conveyance of stores, ammunition, etc. There is also a provision of £92,000 in respect of two seaward defence boats, required for training personnel in harbour defence duties. These vessels will be of the motor fishing vessel type, suitably adapted and equipped. They will also be used for the general training of naval personnel, including the Slua Muiri. Both the stores ship and the seaward defence boats would have a limited usefulness for fishing protection duties in addition to their primary functions.
The provision under the heading of maintenance includes a sum of £75,000 as an instalment of the cost of the major overhaul of one corvette. The cost will be higher, but this will not be known until a survey has been carried out. While well maintained by us, none of the corvettes has had a major overhaul since being built. The work is, therefore, long overdue and, in future years, it will be necessary to deal with the other two corvettes.
Provision is also made for the replacement of the main armament of two of the corvettes and to increase the stock of smaller weapons. It is not expected, however, that the full cost will fall to be met this year.
In sub-head Q—Engineer Stores— there is an increase of £2,127. Under the heading of technical and instructional stores, provision is made for the expenditure of £31,100, an increase of £22,200 over the previous year's figure. The items under this heading are mainly required for the training of personnel in anti-tank mining and the laying of minefields, as well as for the general demolition training of the Corps of Engineers. Military bomb disposal equipment is also to be purchased at an estimated cost of £4,500. A deduction of £23,000 has been made in respect of stores ordered but not expected to be delivered during the year.
The Estimate for sub-head R—Fuel, Light, etc.—has increased by £4,750. The provision made for fuel is based on actual requirements. It is proposed to continue using some of the reserve stocks of coal at the Curragh and in the Southern and Western Commands. There are no reserve stocks in the Eastern Command.
The increase in sub-head X—Incidental Expenses — is due almost entirely to provision made for advertising in connection with recruiting. A sum of £25,300 has been included under that heading, as compared with £15,000 last year. The provision of £4,330 in respect of books, periodicals and manuals is normal, but is for the first time included in this sub-head. It was previously scattered over a number of sub-heads.
Sub-head X (1)—Telegrams and Telephones—is increased by £6,860, principally because of increased rates of charge. As regards sub-head X (3)— Irish Red Cross Society (Grant-in- Aid)—there is an increase of £5,900. It has been found necessary to increase the contribution towards the normal activities of the society by £5,000, bringing the amount to £10,000. The additional £900 is intended to enable the society to pay two years' contributions to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
As regards sub-head Y—Office of the Minister for Defence: Salaries, Wages and Allowances—an increase of £17,821 is shown as compared with last year. The sum of £17,690, transferred from the Vote for Increases in Remuneration, must, however, be added to last year's figure, so that there is really no change.
I should, perhaps, also refer to substantial decreases which have occurred in some of the sub-heads. The first particularly large reduction is in sub-head K—Provisions and Allowances in Lieu—the amount of the reduction being £68,819. This year's Estimate, as I mentioned earlier, provides for an actual average strength of 9,500 other ranks in the combined services over the year. That is considerably less than the number provided for last year and is the chief factor in the decrease.
While, in the case of sub-head M— Clothing and Equipment—there is a reduction of £93,238, it will be seen, in particular, that under the heading of uniform clothing for non-commissioned officers and men, there is an increase of £151,619. This is partly due to the fact that last year's provision was inadequate and partly to the reduction in old stocks which in previous years were used to a substantial extent but are now almost exhausted. On the ground of economy, no provision has been made this year to increase the reserve stocks of uniforms. The provision of £28,250 under this heading is entirely required to meet the balance of contracts from last year.
The considerable reduction of £27,900 in sub-head T—Military Lands —is caused by the fact that expenditure on last year's scale, when a large parcel of land at Baldonnel together with smaller parcels at Gormanston and Clonmel had to be paid for, will not arise this year.
The saving of £9,602 in sub-head V —Barrack Services—results from a proposed curtailment of purchases of furniture, bedding, etc., while the reduction of £5,813 in sub-head W— Insurance—is due to the fact that the numbers provided for are not so great as last year.
That completes my survey of the provisions of the Estimate for Defence. I think it right to say, in conclusion, that from what I have seen since taking office, I am very satisfied with the discipline and morale of the Defence Forces. It is my intention to carry out an inspection of all posts, establishments and units within the next 12 months. I intend, in particular, to take a special interest in the F.C.A. and to do everything within my power to help it to be a most useful component of the Defence Forces.
