Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Jul 1955

Vol. 152 No. 1

Written Answers. - Central Engineering Workshop.

Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of each item of engineering plant and machinery being overhauled in the central engineering workshop in May, 1955, and which had been out of service for more than six months, the reasons for the time taken (i) to transfer to the workshop, (ii) to begin overhaul after receipt, and (iii) to complete the overhaul where any or all of these factors are material.

Mr. Sweetman

The information requested is as follows:—

Description of Plant	Plant No.	Awaiting Transfer to Workshop	Awaiting Overhaul	Under Overhaul
Reason for time taken where material	Reason for time taken where material	Reason for time taken where material
EXCAVATORS:
Lima 802	L1601	Priority given to other items.	—	Priority given to other work.
do.	L1603	Workshop fully loaded.	Workshop fully loaded.	Priority given to other work and awaiting supplies.
do.	L1608	Priority given to other items.	—	—
Lima 34	L616	do.	Workshop fully loaded.	Priority given to other work.
Ruston 24	RB701	—	Priority given to other work.	Priority given to other work.
Ruston 24	RB708	Workshop fully loaded.	—	Priority given to other work and awaiting supplies.
Ruston 19	RB505	—	Workshop fully loaded.	—
Ruston 19	RB509	—	—	Priority given to other work.
Ruston 19	RB510	—	—	Priority given to other work and awaiting supplies.
Ruston 4	RB513	Priority given to other work.	Workshop fully loaded.	Priority given to other work.
Ruston 4	RB414	—	Workshop fully loaded.	—
Ruston 4	RB415	—	Priority given to other work.	—
Ransome and Rapier.	RR802	—	Priority given to other work.	—
Ransome and Rapier.	RR803	Awaiting replacement engine.	—	Priority given to other work.
Ransome and Rapier.	RR806	—	—	Priority given to other work.
Smith	S623	—	—	Priority given to other work and awaiting supplies.
Smith	S624	—	—	Priority given to other work.
Priestman Wolf	P308	—	—	Priority given to other work.
Priestman Wolf	P327	—	Workshop fully loaded.	Priority given to other work.
CATERPILLAR TRACTOR	7C1	—	Priority given to other work.	—
PUMPS:
Sykes	6P04	—	Priority given to other work.	Priority given to other work and awaiting supplies.
do.	4P01	—	do.	do.
do.	4P03	Priority given to other work.	do.	do.
do.	4P11	do.	—	do.
do.	4P12	do.	Priority given to other work.	Priority given to other work.
do.	4P13	do.	do.	do.
do.	4P14	do.	do.	do.
do.	4P16	do.	do.	do.
do.	4P17	—	do.	do.
do.	4P23	—	do.	do.
COMPRESSORS:
Broomwade	167/04	—	do.	Priority given to other work.
do.	60/02	Workship fully loaded.	do.	Awaiting supplies.
do.	60/03	—	—	Awaiting supplies.
CONCRETE MIXERS
—	7/5/03	—	Priority given to other work.	Awaiting supplies.
—	14/10/01	Priority given to other work.	—	do.
DUMPERS
—	D/03	do.	Priority given to other work.	Awaiting supplies.
—	D/04	do.	do.	do.

Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of each Lima 802 excavator held by the Office of Public Works, (i) its cost, (ii) how long it has been in their possession, (iii) the total time in active service, (iv) the total time waiting and undergoing overhaul, and (v) the reasons for any protracted disuse.

Mr. Sweetman

The information requested, up to 30th April, 1955, is as follows:—

Machine No.	Cost	In possession of Office of Public Works	In active Service	Awaiting and Undergoing Overhaul	Reasons for protracted disuse
	£	weeks	weeks	weeks
1601	13,200	346	233	52(continuing)	Awaiting suitable work; priority in overhaul given to other work.
1602	13,200	333	243	44	Priority in overhaul given to other work.
1603	14,514	333	206	53(continuing)	Awaiting suitable work; priority in overhaul given to other work.
1604	14,514	329	190	56	Awaiting parts and awaiting suitable work.
1605	14,649	324	166	136	Priority in overhaul given to other work and awaiting parts.
1606	14,514	324	187	98	Awaiting parts and awaiting suitable work.
1607	14,649	324	205	85	Priority in overhaul given to other work; awaiting parts.
1608	14,514	324	251	12(continuing)	Awaiting suitable work; priority in overhaul given to other work.

Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state, in respect of the Lima 1201 excavators and the Marion 111 M excavators, (a) the special tasks for which they were acquired by the Office of Public Works, (b) what, if any, ancillary equipment and facilities have to be provided, and (c) the dates of acquisition; further, if he will make available in the Oireachtas Library copies of the log-sheets of these excavators, indicating specially the periods during which they were engaged on the special tasks.

Mr. Sweetman

These excavators were acquired as a necessary addition to smaller capacity plant and are employed on heavy digging and for work on the wider rivers included in arterial drainage schemes. Apart from buckets and mats no ancillary equipment or facilities have to be provided. The Lima machines were acquired in April, 1951, and the Marion machines in August and September, 1951. I do not think it would be desirable or would serve any purpose to make copies of the log-sheets available in the Oireachtas Library.

Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (1) the full terms under which the premises and equipment taken over for the central engineering workshop were acquired, and (2) the approximate total cost to the State to date of these premises and equipment, including maintenance and depreciation.

Mr. Sweetman

The premises and equipment at Inchicore taken over from C.I.E. for the central engineering workshops and held under two leases, one for a term of 50 years from 2nd April, 1951, at a rent of £13,500 a year and the other for a coterminous period from 15th April, 1955, at a rent of £1,750 a year. In each case the lessees are responsible for the payment of rates and for maintenance. The lessees are at liberty to terminate the leases on the 2nd April, 1981, or at the end of each succeeding five-year period by six months' notice. The lessors also have power to terminate the leases on certain conditions.

The total cost to the State to date is approximately £81,000.

Mr. Sheldon

asked the Minister for Finance what items costing more than £3,000 of (a) engineering plant and machinery, and (b) workshop plant and equipment, are on order or have been acquired since 31st May, 1955, by the Office of Public Works.

Mr. Sweetman

No item costing more than £3,000 of (a) engineering plant and machinery, and (b) workshop plant and equipment, is on order or has been acquired since 31st May, 1955, by the Office of Public Works.