It was very seldom in the history of Votes 8, 9 and 10 that we got away with one speaker on them. I need not tell you that I am delighted, because I remember that in years gone by Vote 10 used to be the cockshot of Deputies in this House. I regret the absence of my predecessor, Deputy Beegan, and I hope he will be back with us soon again.
Speaking last night on this Estimate, Deputy Bartley made reference to the fact that my statement with regard to public works and buildings and certain works to be carried out was not in agreement with what the Minister for Finance said last week. I want to point out to Deputy Bartley that in introducing the Estimate I said: "Deputies will of course understand that these Estimates were prepared by my predecessor and I propose to explain the various items as I find them". Therefore I just explained the items as I found them. I cannot understand how Deputy Bartley can say that it is different and that it shows that the Minister for Finance was not in earnest. I just explained the provisions. I also want to say as far as these are concerned that many of the things here will be subject to review and our attitude on many of them will be decided on later.
Deputy Bartley made great play with my statement with regard to the change in the rural improvement scheme. He stated that I praised myself for the change made in the terms of the scheme and that I did not mention the credit due to my predecessor, Deputy Beegan, in providing more money for this work. It is the duty of every Government to provide money for this work. I need not remind Deputy Bartley that when I brought in the change in this scheme in the year 1949-50 it was then opposed from that side of the House.
I was told it would not be workable and that it would be of no use. Nevertheless, it is a consolation to me to know that the very people who opposed it have carried it out for three years and now they want to claim the credit for it. In 1949-50 the amount of money spent on it was £145,000; last year there was £250,000 spent on it. It is a scheme which does very good work. The change in valuations has meant that the lower valuation people, who were not able to contribute the 25 per cent. of the cost as it stood, in some cases had only to make a contribution of 5 per cent., 7 per cent. and 10 per cent., and the result was the very big increase which we have to-day. That is a good thing, because it is only when a scheme is working that you find the flaws in it. The rural improvements scheme was originally brought in for the purpose of helping the poorer people who would not be qualified under the minor relief scheme. After it had been some years in operation, I found in 1949-50 that it did not actually fill the bill, as in many cases in the poorer areas the people were unable to contribute the 25 per cent. and the scheme fell through. I am delighted that that change is working so well.
I was surprised that the question of arterial drainage was not raised on this Vote. In areas such as the Brosna, the Glyde and Dee, the Feale area known as the Brick and Cashen, and for the last few weeks the Corrib, I found that many people did not realise what is being done for them. They have been clamouring for these arterial drainage schemes. In some cases it means the spending of £1,000,000 or £2,000,000 on a scheme. It takes some years to survey an area and design a scheme and eventually it is put on exhibition in each area for the people concerned to see. Everything goes smoothly until the work starts and then you are flooded with objections about the taking off of this corner, that corner and the other corner. That is very ungrateful of those people. Money is being spent and work is being done for which they have been crying out for years and then they raise objections and think that the machines should be held up.
As I have pointed out, they have three months, while the scheme is there on exhibition, to object. Anyhow, under the Act, their objection is of no use for the simple reason that they can claim their compensation and later on it will be decided what they are entitled to. In some of the schemes we are working in at the moment I think the people should realise that the Government, the taxpayers and the country contribute quite a lot of money to do this good work for them that they are agitating for and crying out for for years; and I hope they will be more grateful in some schemes we have to tackle than they were in some of the ones we have tackled.
I would like to pay a tribute to my predecessor, Deputy Beegan. I have no doubt that he worked there as hard as any Parliamentary Secretary could work, and I would pay him that tribute, in his absence.
I am delighted that one scheme in which I was personally interested and which I got going when I was in this position previously—the Corrib—is just getting under way in Galway and the West of Ireland. It is one of the largest arterial drainage schemes in our country, it means spending £2,120,000 and the engineering staff, the officers and the Board of Works have worked hard on that scheme. I hope it will be the success that the others are proving to be.
The Brosna is nearly finished at the moment. The work there is praised highly by the people. I had an opportunity within the last week to visit two other schemes—the Glyde and Dee, and the one on the Feale in Kerry— and I found there also that our engineering staff and workers are working to perfection.
At the moment, therefore, we have four schemes on hand. The Brosna, of course, is closing down. We will keep at work with all possible speed while I am there, at any rate, as we realise how necessary arterial drainage is for every part of the country. Of course, each person thinks that the work in his own area is the most necessary. I do not blame them for that. That is what they think. Our idea is to meet them all and to do them all as soon as it is possible.
I thank the House very much and I may add that, through questions or by calling to my office, I will do anything I can for any Deputy on any side of the House. I am there to be their servant and if there is anything I can do for them, or that anyone in the Board of Works or in the Special Employment Schemes Office can do—in the future as in the past—we will be always only too glad to do it.