asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will explain the reasons for the substantial increases in office expenses and salaries in 1954-55, as compared with 1953-54, disclosed in the income and expenditure account of Córas Tráchtála Teoranta.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Córas Tráchtála Accounts.
Mr. Lemass
The increase in office expenses is due mainly to increased rental charges payable to the Office of Public Works for office accommodation in New York, and to additional expenditure on postage, cables, etc., as a result of the larger volume of inquiries handled by the company's New York and Montreal offices. The increase in rental charge in respect of the New York premises was applied retrospectively from and including the year 1952-53.
The increased expenditure on salaries is due to the appointment of additional staff at home and abroad to cope with the normal expansion of the company's activities and the extension of those activities to non-dollar markets. The additional staff comprised two trade advisers and two typists for the Dublin office; one assistant and one shorthand typist for the New York office and one assistant and one typist for the Montreal office.