Tairgim:
Go ndeonfar suim nach mó ná £4,482,600 chun slánaithe na suime is gá chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1960, chun Oglaigh na hÉireann (lena n-áiritear Deontais-i-gCabhair áirithe) faoin Acht Cosanta, 1954 (Uimh. 18 de 1954), agus chun Costas áirithe riaracháin i ndáil leis an gcéanna; chun Costas áirithe faoi na hAchtanna um Chiontaí in aghaidh an Stáit, 1939 agus 1940 (Uimh. 13 de 1939 agus Uimh. 2 de 1940), agus faoi na hAchtanna um Réamhchúram in aghaidh Aer-Ruathar, 1939 agus 1946 (Uimh. 21 de 1939 agus Uimh. 28 de 1946); chun Costas i ndáil le Boinn a thabhairt amach, etc.; agus chun Deontais-i-gCabhair do Chumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann (Uimh. 32 de 1938).
£6,914,686 méid iomlán an Mheastacháin le haghaidh na bliana 1959/60 agus, tar éis Leithreasuithe-i-gCabhair a bhaint de, is é glan-mhéid an Mheastacháin ná £6,723,900 sé sin, £355,840 níos mó ná Meastachán bunaidh na bliana 1958/59 mar a méadaíodh le £165,500 a aistriú ón Vóta i leith Luach Saothair i ndáil leis na méaduithe pá a deonadh anuraidh agus mar a laghdaíodh trí shuim £6,000 a aistríodh go dtí an Vóta a bhaineann le Rátaí ar Mhaoin leis an Rialtas.
De ghlan-mhéid an Mheastacháin, caithfear beagnach £4,300,000 nó 64% ar phá, liúntais agus cothabháil na mBuan-Oglaigh. Tá an tsuim sin riartha ar roinnt Fho-Mhírcheann. Mar is gnáth, rinneadh amach an Meastachán ar fhoras na Bunaíochta Síochána, dar líon anois 1,336 oifigeach agus 11,892 fhear, maraon le laghduithe i leith na n-uimhreacha is dealraitheach a bheidh an líon féin i rith na bliana faoi bhun na Bunaíochta. Is amhlaidh mar atá go bhfuil soláthar á dhéanamh sa Mheastachán do 1,174 oifigeach, trí daltai is daichead agus 8,000 fear. An líon atá beartaithe do na fir, tá sé cúig chéad níos mó ná an líon dá ndearnadh soláthar anuraidh.
Ba mhian liom moladh a thabhairt d'Óglaigh na hÉireann mar gheall ar a meanmnacht árd agus feabhas a dtréineála an bhliain seo gabh tharainn. Tá glactha le scéim nua ath-eagraíochta agus, dá barr sin, déanfar iomlánú, don chéad uair, ar na BuanÓglaigh, an Cúltaca Céad-Líne agus An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil. Creidim go mbeidh de thoradh air sin Fórsa Cosanta níos fearr a chur ar fáil don tír. Ba mhaith an ní é, dá ndéanfadh iadsin uile atá i riocht chuige, anáil a chur faoi dhaoine ina measc an Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil a neartú—Fórsa a bhfuil am agus dúthracht caite go fial ag a chomhaltaí leis an ard-chaighdeán éifeachtúlachta atá acu faoi láthair a bhaint amach. Iarraim, freisin, go gcuideofaí leis an gCosaint Shibhialta i ngach slí is féidir. Ní raibh ach toradh cuíosach ar an earcaíocht ina comhair a bhí ann cheana. In áiteanna áirithe bhí an toradh go maith ar fad ach in áiteanna eile ba chúis mhór díomá é. Cláraíodh tuairim is trí mhíle, seacht gcéad fear agus bean san eagraíocht agus tá teagasc faighte ag dhá mhíle agus cúig chéad díobh sin. Má tá aon dul chun cinn le déanmh sa Chosaint Shibhialta, caithfidh na daoine go léir breis suime agus dúthrachta a chur inti. Ba mhian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na daoine atá san eagraíocht cheana agus, fós, leis na cumainn chabhairdheontacha atá ann faoi láthair, mar gheall ar a dtacaíocht san obair.
The gross Estimate for 1959-60 is £6,914,686, and the net Estimate, after the deduction of Appropriations-in-Aid, is £6,723,900—an increase of £355,840 on the original Estimate for 1958-59 as increased by a transfer of £165,500 from the Vote for Remuneration in connection with the pay increases which were granted last year and reduced by an amount of £6,000 transferred to the Vote concerned with Rates on Government Property.
Of the net Estimate, almost £4,300,000, or 64 per cent. of the total, is required for the pay, allowances and maintenance of the Permanent Defence Force. The sum in question is spread over a number of sub-heads, some of which I shall be referring to specifically later in my statement. As usual, the Estimate has been framed on the basis of the Peace Establishment, which is now 1,336 officers and 11,892 men, with deductions in respect of the numbers by which actual strength during the year is likely to be below the Establishment. In effect, the Estimate provides for 1,174 officers, 43 cadets and 8,000 men. The proposed strength of men is 500 over the number for which provision was made last year. The experience of the last twelve months showed that it is impossible for the Army to carry out the necessary degree of advanced training and, at the same time, be ready at short notice to provide personnel for normal duties while the strength of men remains as low as 7,500.
Before commencing to deal with the details of the Estimate, I should like first to pay tribute to the entire Defence Forces for the high standards of morale and training maintained in the past year. A proof of these high standards was given by the fifty officers, representative of all Corps, who went to the Lebanon to operate with the United Nations Observer Group. They received the highest praise for their efficiency and co-operation. The Commanding General of the United Nations Group, in expressing thanks for the excellent way in which they carried out their duty, said that they had given loyal and valuable service to the United Nations and added "The Irish officers have made a great contribution to the success of this mission. It has been a privilege and honour for me to have had them under my command."
During the past year, a general scheme of reorganisation of the Defence Forces was approved. The purpose of the scheme is to provide a peace-time organisation which would enable the country to put into the field, on mobilisation, an initial force of a number of Brigades with the necessary ancillary services—the maximum force which we estimate could be raised in peace-time. It is proposed to implement that new organisation later this year, and this will bring about for the first time the complete integration of the Permanent Defence Force, the First Line Reserve and An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil. This integration has been made possible by the splendid spirit, enthusiasm and discipline shown by An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil. That Force is to be complimented on its progress. It is a voluntary body whose members have given generously of their time and effort in order to reach the present high standard of efficiency. I believe that the result of this integration will be to give the country an improved Defence Force. It is obviously desirable that An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil should be as numerically strong as possible. It provides an opportunity of rendering national service which should appeal to every young man, and all additions to its ranks, as well as all assistance which Deputies and others in a position to exercise influence can give in strengthening it, will be heartily welcomed.
In addition to its other duties, the Naval Service has continued quietly and efficiently throughout the year to provide fishing protection to the full extent of its resources. It was particularly active recently when, as a result of the appearance of an unusually large number of foreign fishing vessels in the herring fishing grounds off the South-East Coast, two corvettes had to maintain a constant patrol in the area, and carried out five arrests of foreign vessels by which infringements of fishing laws were deemed to have been committed.
As part of its training programme, the Army is currently running a number of schemes for the training and education of boys. The primary purpose is the provision of technical personnel for the Forces. It is also a valuable contribution to general vocational educational training in the country. I should mention particularly the Apprentice School at Naas, which caters for the progressive training for three years of approximately 55 boys a year. The scheme, which has as its objective the training of the boys in various trades, has been in operation for the past three years and the first intake of boys will pass out this year and will be posted to units where the boys will continue to practise their trades. This scheme is recognised by the Trade Unions. There are also the older schemes at Baldonnel, where boys and adults are trained in trades associated with the maintenance of aircraft, and the Army School of Music where about 25 boys are taken in every year to be trained as musicians. As well, there is in operation in the Signals Depot at the Curragh a progressive scheme whereby about 25 men a year are trained in trades connected with radio and radar. I mention all these schemes particularly, because they merit the attention of parents and vocational education authorities.
The latest recruiting campaign, which opened last October, has proved to be the most successful since 1952, the average monthly intake being almost 300. Already, as a result of the campaign, more than 1,400 men have been enlisted in the Permanent Force.
The School of Equitation is at present going through a period of transition. In recent years, we have not had the success in international riding competitions to which we were at one time accustomed and that, naturally enough, has been the cause of some disappointment and heartsearching. A good deal of the criticism has been rather unfair. The international standard of equitation has undoubtedly become much higher than in the days when it was taken as a matter of course that Irish horses and riders should sweep the field. Conditions have also changed in other respects; for instance, in competitions there is now an emphasis on the time factor which did not exist before the war. We can, indeed, feel nothing but admiration for the young officers who since the war have had so many successes despite the fact that, on the whole, they had little or no riding experience until they joined the Army, and we must also sympathise with them in having to take part in competitions under the strain of knowing that so much is expected of them and that, if they fail, criticism rather than understanding is likely to be their lot.
However, it is most desirable, from the point of view of advertising Irish horses abroad and also from the point of view of prestige, that every effort should be made to get back to our former standards, if that can be done, and steps towards that end are being taken. We have at the School a number of officers, including some in training, who are regarded as very good, and we also have some horses of whom great things are expected in due course. Furthermore, we hope to purchase some more horses—they are not as easy to come by as may be thought—which would be capable in a short time of being introduced to international competitions and which would bridge the gap until the other horses to which I have referred are ready. Increased provision is, therefore, made in Subhead N for the purchase of horses this year. We propose to take part this year only in four international competitions— those at Dublin, London, Ostend and Rotterdam—as well as at eleven local horse shows, and to devote the present year otherwise to efforts to reach again the eminence which was once our pride.
The Recruiting campaign for civil defence since its inception late in 1956 has been no more than reasonably satisfactory. In some areas the response has been very good, and in others it has been most disappointing. About 3,700 men and women have enrolled in the organisation and upwards of 2,500 of these have undergone instruction locally by instructors who were trained in the Department's Civil Defence School, Phoenix Park. There exists no more than the bare nucleus of a civil defence organisation in most areas and in some areas even that nucleus is not available. If any progress is to be achieved a much greater effort on the part of the people as a whole is called for. The unsatisfactory response in so many areas is attributable to the attitude of two main groups of people. The first is composed of those who consider the problem entirely remote from this island with its history of neutrality. This is indeed a dangerous line of thought. Even if this country should never be attacked directly it would be exposed to the potential dangers of radioactive fallout from nuclear devices falling outside the country.
The second group is made up of those who maintain that it is beyond our powers to do anything really worth while to save human lives or reduce the damage to property in the event of attack by nuclear weapons. The best answer to that, of course, is that the major powers who possess those weapons and who are therefore most aware of the extent of the awful havoc which can be wrought by them are in the forefront of those who are building up civil defence organisations.
Civil defence is now an integral part of national defence in this country and it will continue so for so long as the world situation as a whole makes it quite clear that it is necessary. A determined drive towards the establishment of an efficient civil defence organisation for this country within the next couple of years is being made by my Department within the limits of the available resources.
It is anticipated that some 2,000 volunteers from the three existing voluntary first aid societies will enrol in civil defence. These volunteers together with any other suitable persons who may wish to join will form the nucleus of the Casualty and Ambulance Service of the Civil Defence Organisation. A course has already been held by the Department in An Scoil Chosanta Sibhialta, Phoenix Park, for the completion of training of instructors for this Service. Those who attended were members of the Irish Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Brigade and the Order of Knights of Malta and they were nominated by their societies through their local authorities. Two further courses for this Service have been arranged for the near future. I would like to pay a special tribute to all the societies concerned for the co-operation which they have offered to me in this most important matter and which gives great hope for the future organisation of this Service. I would like to make it clear that the voluntary service which the members of these organisations are giving in the local Civil Defence Services is in addition to the service which they are giving to their own organisations.
It is scarcely necessary for me to stress again the urgent necessity for the existence throughout the State of an efficient civil defence organisation. Towards this end I will continue to ensure that my Department does its utmost, but the success or otherwise of the objective will depend mainly on the people themselves, on whom the ultimate survival of the nation may well rest. As in the case of An Forsa Cosanta Áitiúil, therefore, I would appeal to all members of this House to use their influence and their energies towards inducing responsible individuals or associations to cooperate with their local authorities for the establishment of an efficient Civil Defence Service.
In addressing myself to the details of the Estimate, it will no doubt be convenient for Deputies if I follow the usual practice of speaking first about the Subheads which show an appreciable increase and then about those which have decreased noticeably, and of commenting in each case upon the reasons. I may say by way of introduction, however, that while the net increase of almost £356,000 is a very big one, about which nobody can be unconcerned, the higher rates of pay and allowances which came into operation last year, and the cost of the additional 500 men make up a very considerable portion of that increased figure. There has been, in a number of other ways, very drastic pruning—in some instances, much more drastic than I am altogether happy about—in an effort to keep expenditure within bounds.
There are a number of Subheads showing increases which I may take together because the increases are entirely or almost entirely attributable to one or both of the factors which I have mentioned already—increased rates of pay and allowances and the proposed increase in the strength of men from 7,500 to 8,000. The Sub-heads in question are Subhead A— Pay of Officers, Cadets, N.C.O.s and Privates; Subhead B—Marriage Allowance; Subhead K—Provisions and Allowances in lieu, and Subhead Y2— the Reserve Defence Force. In Sub-head A—Pay—the increase is £215,731 and it is entirely attributable to the two factors of which I have spoken. In Subhead B—Marriage Allowance—there is an increase of £17,161.
This arises partly from increases in the marriage allowance rates which came into force last year and partly from the fact that, with a larger Army, more men become eligible for admission to the married establishment. In Subhead K—Provisions and Allowances in Lieu—the increase is £66,337 which arises, firstly, from the increased cost of foodstuffs for those who are rationed and increased rates of ration allowance for those who are not and, secondly, from the proposed increase of 500 men. The increase of £17,375 in Subhead Y2—the Reserve —arises entirely from increased pay and the cost of rations for An Foras Cosanta Áitiúil. Actually, for the F.C.A. itself, the increase is somewhat more than £20,000, but the provisions for the First Line Reserve of Officers and Men are a little smaller than last year, as the strengths are lower. First Line Reserve strengths are somewhat variable depending on the extent to which in any one year, transfers from the Permanent Force are greater or lesser than the casualties in the Reserve itself. I should, perhaps, draw Deputies' attention to the fact that, despite its title, Subhead A does not contain the entire provision for the pay of the Permanent Force. Subhead E provides for the pay of the officers of the Medical Corps while Subhead P2 relates, inter alia, to the pay of the members of the Naval Service. This is something which it is intended to tidy up in due course.
Subhead C—Pay of Civilians attached to Units—shows an increase of £24,833. In conjunction with that Subhead, I may also take Subhead S —Barrack Maintenance and New Works—in which there is a slight decrease of £1,497.
The increase in Subhead C is caused entirely by pay increases. There is a reduction of 33 in the proposed average number of employees with the Corps of Engineers. Last year, an increase of 30 over the previous year's number was provided for, in order that necessary new works and maintenance might be carried out. This year, considerations of economy compel us to revert to a slightly smaller number. Most of the work planned for this year is once more concerned with improving living conditions for the troops.
Because of difficulties regarding the purchase of a site, it was not possible to start work during 1958-59 on the housing scheme for married soldiers at Collins Barracks, Cork. The purchase was, however, effected recently, and I expect that work will commence at an early date. This year, it is proposed to complete the new gymnasium at the Curragh, the new dining hall and cookhouse at Custume Barracks, Athlone, the modernisation of sanitary and ablution facilities in the married quarters at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, and a number of other works. The new Catholic Church at the Curragh, the erection of which is under the supervision of the Office of Public Works, should also be completed this year.
The increase in Subhead J—Mechanical Transport—of £9,770 arises from the urgent necessity to replace vehicles which are no longer serviceable, and that of £72,984 in Subhead M—Clothing and Equipment—results from the necessity to purchase increased stocks, as reserves are, to all intents and purposes, exhausted. As well, larger numbers of men will now require to be clothed and equipped.
The next increase to which I may refer is that of £12,368 in Subhead P —Defensive Equipment. As I said last year, we have not yet built up full mobilisational stocks, but are nevertheless moderately well equipped with light conventional weapons, so that this year again I am seeking only a relatively small sum for defensive equipment. It mainly covers commitments by way of instalment payments on long-term contracts and in the matter of maintenance.
The amount of £130,341 for which provision is made under Subhead P.1 —Civil Defence—is £78,774 greater than the sum provided for in the Estimates for 1958/59. This increase is mainly attributable to the proposed expansion of civil defence training to centres throughout the country for which no civil defence measures have been organised up to the present and to the provision of uniforms for an anticipated intake of further volunteers. The principal items making up the sum of £130,341 are Grants to Local Authorities who have statutory responsibilities for the organisation of civil defence services, and the purchase and maintenance of equipment and stores.
Grants to local authorities account for £37,806 an increase of £12,739 over last year. These grants include contributions towards the cost of civil defence administration by local authorities, towards the cost of uniforms for volunteers, and towards the servicing, storage and maintenance of equipment issued to local authorities. The provision of £109,235 for the purchase and maintenance of equipment and stores represents an increase of £82,035 as compared with last year's provision. This increase is due mainly to the purchase of equipment for the additional centres to which it is proposed to expand civil defence training and to which I referred earlier. Training equipment is supplied free by the State.
Subhead R—Fuel, Light and Water —shows an increase of £8,300. This again arises from increased costs as well as continuing increase in the use of electricity as a result of the improvement of amenities in different ways.
Provision is made under Subhead X3 for payment of the sum of £17,950 to Cumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann by way of Grant-in-Aid. This is an increase of £2,500 over the provision for 1958-59 and is due to the necessity for greater financial assistance in connection with the financing of the Society's normal activities. The provision also includes a sum of £5,000, the same as last year, for the maintenance of the group of White Russian refugees from North China which the society agreed to receive to look after. During the year the society continued to care for the Hungarian refugees in Knockalisheen Camp until arrangements were completed for their resettling elsewhere. The camp was closed on the 15th December, 1958, and handed back to my Department on the 2nd February, 1959. I should like to avail of this opportunity of paying a well-deserved tribute to the society for its work on behalf of the refugees and to the Army personnel who rendered assistance in that connection. The society is to be highly recommended for its activities and deserves every help and encouragement.
The last increase which it is necessary for me to mention is that in Subhead AA—Expenses in Connection with the Offences Against the State Acts. The Estimate was, of course, prepared some time ago, and it is hoped that very little of the money provided in this subhead will be needed this year.
I think that little need be said about the subheads which show decreases. The most substantial decreases are in Subhead O—General Stores—£14,749, and Subhead P2—Naval Services— £19,175. As in the case of all the other subheads which show decreases, the proposed savings represent a pruning effort—and a very drastic pruning in some instances—in order to compensate to some extent for the unavoidable increases elsewhere in the Estimate.
Appropriations-in-Aid also show a nett decrease of £18,904. The main individual items which bring about that decrease are the revenue from lands and premises, and the sale of surplus lands, which between them show a reduction of £21,940. Against that, there is a new item—£11,730 in respect of refunds to be made to the Department by local authorities in respect of Civil Defence uniforms issued to them. As regards the drop in revenue from lands, I may explain that surplus lands at Tallaght were disposed of during the past year, and deposits on the purchase price were received. The sale transaction will be completed at an early date. Some tenanted lands at Billeragh, Co. Cork, were transferred to the Land Commission with a view to the tenants being admitted to the benefits of the Land Purchase Acts. Arrangements are also being made for the sale of the State's interest in certain lands at Bere Island to the tenants of the lands or their next-of-kin.
That substantially covers everything of importance or interest in the Estimate. I shall, of course, be glad to give any further information that may be required.
