Vol. 175 No. 3
I move:
That a sum not exceeding £285,750 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1960, for the Salaries and expenses of the Office of Public Works (1 & 2 Will. 4, c. 33, Secs. 5 and 6; 5 & 6 Vict., c. 89, Secs. 1 and 2; 9 & 10 Vict., c. 86, Secs. 2, 7 and 9; etc.).
Tá sé de nós ag an Dáil Vótanna a 8 agus a 9 a chur idir chamánaí i buil a chéile; agus tá ar intinn agam an nós sin a leanacht an iarraidh seo mar is gnáth.
Is as Vóta a 8 a thaganns tuarastail agus costais na bhfoireann riartha, feidhmiúil agus teicniúil de chuid Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí a bhfuil freagracht uirri Vóta a 9 a riaradh.
Bíonn Vóta a 9 thíos le cuid mhaith mhírcheann caitheachais agus seo iad na príomh-chinn aca sin: ceannach suíomh agus foirgneamh chun críochanna Stáit; tógáil agus cothabháil Oifigí Rialtais agus áitreabh eile de chuid an Stáit agus troscán a sholáthar ina gcomhair sin; tógáil agus feabhsúchán Tithe Scoile Náisiúnta; tógáil foirgneamh mór don Arm; Siltín Airtéireach agus oibreacha eile innealtóireachta; cothabháil Páirceanna agus Cuan leis an Stát, agus chun críochanna áithride eile.
Níl fúm a chur síos i nGaeilge ar na mirchínn éagsúla as éadan. Déanfaidh mé é sin sa gcuntas a thiúrfas mé uaim i mBéarla ina dhiaidh seo.
Nuair a ceapadh don oifig seo mé dúirt an Taoiseach liom go mba chóir tús áite a thabhairt do thógáil agus do fheabhsúchán tithe scoile. Tá cuntas sásúil ina dtaobh sin le n-aithris ar an Vóta sin. Nílim ag súil go mbeifear sásta leis an dul 'un chinn atá déanta cúns is a bhéas aon riaráiste mór oibre ann; ach is féidir a bheith sásta go bhfuiltear i nglacamas láimhe leis an riaráiste sin, agus go bhfuiltear, do réir a chéile, ag fáil an ceann is fearr air.
Tá ceithre mhíle agus ocht gcéad tithe scoile ann. Ón bhliain a naoi gcéad déag fiche is a dó anall tá scoileanna nua tógtha in áit an cheathrú chuid acu sin. Meastar go dteastaíonn seacht gcéad agus caoga scoileanna nua eile; agus i dtaobh trí chéad eile, go gcaithfear a chur leo nó ath-chaoi a chur orra. Is meall mór oibre atá san méid sin ann fhéin gan trácht ar ghnáth-chúrsa tógála agus feabhsaithe ó bhliain go bliain. Molaim saothar na fóirne atá i bhfeighil na h-oibre seo as ucht a ndearnadar le bliain anuas nuair a chaitheadar an tsuim airgid ba mhó dar caitheadh ariamh ar an seirbhís seo agus nuair a sholáthraigh siad níos mó scoileanna ná mar rinneadh riamh cheana. Fiú aige sin fhéin, deirtear liom go dtógfaidh sé, ar a laghad, cúig bliana déag leis an riaráiste a ghlanadh; ach cuimhnítear ina thaobh seo gur riaráiste é a théigheanns i bhfad siar roimh bhunú féinrialtais ann seo. Níl seirbhís thógáil na scol níos mó chun deiridh ná rudaí eile ar dearnadh neamh-shuim díobh go dtí gur músclaíodh suim ionntu agus gur beartaíodh dá réir sin ar theacht chaoi agus cóir agus cumas chuige sin do mhuinntir na hEireann le rialtas dá gcuid fhéin. Is ceart cuimhniú go bhfuil bacanna i scéal na scol nach bhfuil a réiteach ag Oifig na nOibreacha.
Is ag na bainisteoirí le suímh scol a fháil, ach caithfear a bheith sásta san oifig seo go mbíonn na suímh feiliúnach fóirstineach chun na criche. Scaití, cinneann ar na conrathóirí a gcuid fhéin a chríochnú; agus bíonn fadhbanna eile, seachas a chéile, gur cúntar moille go minic iad. Tríd is tríd, ámthach, ceannsaíonn agus smachtaíonn na h-oifigeoirí iad, agus a shliocht air san tuarascáil is féidir liom a leagan faoi bhráid na Dála i mbliana. Molaim iad as ucht naocha dó scoileanna nua agus seasca dó feabhsúcháin móra a sholáthar sa mbliain dar críoch an t-aonú lá déag ar fhichead den Mharta seo chaite.
Cuirim san darna áit ar an Vóta seo i mbliana siltín airtéireach. Cé go ndéanaim é sin, ní h-é sin le rá nach tábhachtach liom an tseirbhís seo. Ní h-é go cinnte; agus tiubhraidh Teachtaí faoi deara go bhfuil méadú réasúnta mór ar an soláthar di sa mbliain reatha airgeadais. Ba mhaith liom béim a fhágáil, ag cur síos dom ar an Vóta seo, ar an bpríomhchuspóir atá taobh thiar den tseirbhís seo, agus sé sin talamh thalmhíochta a fheabhsú i riocht is go mbeidh ar chumas na bhfeilméaraí toradh talmhaíochta a mhéadú go mór.
Bítear ag tafaint orm as gach ceanntar abhann atá ar an gclár-oibre againn agus nach bhfuil obair ar siúl fós ann, faoin moill gan teacht i gcabhair orra. Ní thógaim orra é; ach tuigfear nach féidir na h-aibhneacha uilig a dhéanamh in éineacht. Tuigfear freisin go bhfuil cuid mhaith den obair seo nárbh féidir é a dhéanamh nó gur ceapadh amach agus gur soláthraíodh innill agus maisíní agus trealamh eile—cuid mhaith díobh do chúrsaí chogaidh. Nuair a bhreathnaítear ar an oiread den chostas a caitear ar a leithéid, tuigfear chomh tábhachtach is atá siad san obair seo. Agus bíonn moill ar a bhfáil go minic, toisc an tóir a bhíonns orra; ach maolaítear an fhadhb roinnt ag an seirbhis anuachainte agus deisithe a chuir an Oifig ar bun roinnt bliain-ó shoin.
Tá tús-ord leagaithe amach ag an Oifig de réir an ghá agus an anróigh ins na ceanntair éagsúla. Ceapadh an órd seo amach as an eolas a bhí cruinnithe i dtaobh na n-abhann éagsúl. Tá sé bunaithe ar mhinice agus ar mhéid na bhfuarloch a bhíonns ionntu agus ar tascaí a bhaineas le líon-daoine agus ganntan nó fairsingeacht talún 7rl. atá ina n-aice. Ar ndóigh, an gad is goire don scórnach is cás le gach duine, agus na daoine a mbíonn tuilte agus fuarloch uisce ar a gcuid talún táid beag-bheann ar an bhfear thall. Ní chuirim milleán orra dá bharr sin. Féadaim an méid seo a rá leo: ardaigí croí; tá an tríú chuid den clár-oibre ar fad idir a bheith críochnaithe nó ar siúl nó faoi shuirbéaracht nó dearadh; agus de réir mar a racfas an obair chun cinn beidh feabhas ag teacht ar an eolas, ar an eagraíocht agus ar an gcleachtú; agus as an bhfeabhas sin is féidir a bheith ag súil go mbeidh an saothar níos scioptha ar an gcuid atá le déanamh nó an chuid atá déanta. Deirtear liom go mbeidh cnámh droma na h-oibre briste i gcionn deich mbliana.
Tá seirbhís innealtóireachta eile dá soláthar ag an Oifig seo; agus bíonn éileamh uirri ag na Ranna Stáit i gcoitian. Baineann sí mórán le cuanta agus oibreacha chalaíochta. Tá foireann an-inniúl i bhfeighil na ndualgas seo. Fearacht na gceanntar siltín, bíonn coimhlint idir na Ranna i dtaobh cén ceann aca a ba chóir tús seirbhíse a bheith aici. Cuireann sí sin as go minic don fhoireann innealtóirí; agus ar nós an tsiltín, braitheann an obair seo ar an aimsir, agus treisíonn sé sin an choimhlint. Má tharlóidh go racfar ró-dhian leis an gcoimlint seo caithfear tús-ord a réiteach i gcomhair na seirbhíse seo freisin.
Ní thagród do na mírchinn eile san Vóta mar beidh mé ag tabhairt cuntais uaim i mBéarla orra anois díreach.
I propose to follow the practice of previous years by taking Votes 8 and 9 together.
Vote 8 bears the salaries and expenses of the administrative, executive and technical staffs of the Office of Public Works, which is the Office responsible for the administration of Vote 9.
Vote 9 provides the necessary funds for the purchase of sites and buildings for State purposes; for the erection, maintenance and furnishing of Government offices and other State-owned premises; for the erection and improvement of national schools; for the erection of major military buildings; for arterial drainage and other engineering works; for the maintenance of State-owned parks and State harbours and for a number of other activities.
There is a net increase of £19,310 in the Estimate for the Office of Public Works compared with the total of the sums voted for 1958-59. Subhead A, which bears the cost of salaries, wages and allowances, shows a gross increase of £37,380 but as last year's Vote was supplemented by the transfer of a sum of £13,000 from the Vote for remuneration the actual increase under this subhead is £24,380. This sum covers in addition to increases in remuneration the cost of additional engineering staff in the Marine and General Division for services in respect of State and commercial harbour undertakings, as well as for surveys and other work in connection with the development of fishery harbours.
An increase of £4,500 in the provision for travelling expenses (Subhead B) covers increased mileage rates for motor cars and expenses arising from increased drainage and marine engineering activities, school building and other works.
Subhead C—incidental expenses-shows an increase of £2,630. This is mainly in respect of additional technical equipment required by the drainage survey programme and the replacement of outworn equipment. The provision—£5,300—in Subhead D for telegrams, telephones and postage, is based on the general trend of outlay on these services.
The increases in the Subheads referred to are partly offset by an increase of £13,000 in estimated receipts under Subhead E—Appropriation-in-Aid. This is mainly due to an anticipated increase in the recoupment from Vote 9 of the salaries and expenses of engineers engaged on construction and maintenance work on arterial drainage schemes and other works and to an increase in the amount recoverable as expenses of management of the Local Loans Fund.
The Estimate of £4,088,870 for Public Works and Buildings shows a net increase of £532,870 on the Estimate for 1958-1959. This is made up of a net increase of £528,104 in estimated expenditure and a reduction of £4,766 in the amount expected to be realised as Appropriations-in-Aid.
The principal increases in expenditure provisions are £180,000 under Subhead B—New Works, Alterations and Additions; £120,000 under Sub-head J. 2—Arterial Drainage Construction Works, and £195,000 under Subhead K—Purchase and Maintenance of Engineering Plant and Machinery and Stores.
Subhead A—Purchase of Sites and Buildings—shows a small increase of £2,000 in respect of the purchase of miscellaneous sites and premises.
As an analysis of the bulk provisions under Subhead B for each Department, as shown in the printed volume, is given in the statement which has been circulated to Deputies it is scarcely necessary for me at this stage to refer to any of the details beyond pointing out that the provision for the building and improvement of national schools is £200,000 more than last year's figure.
The replacement and improvement of national schools is one of the most important features of our work. It is well known that there is a large number of schools throughout the country which are not in as good a condition as we would like them to be. Speaking in round figures there are some 4,800 national schools in all. Since 1922, a little more than one quarter of those have been replaced by new schools. Of the remainder, about 750 are at present listed for replacement. In addition, almost 300 schools require a major scheme of improvement or extension. That presents a sizable programme apart from the additional cases which will fall due for replacement or improvement year by year.
Obviously, the programme must be considered on a long term basis. We have made serious efforts to get to grips with the problem and we have made encouraging progress. Last year, the record sum of nearly £1,500,000 was spent and that meant 92 new schools and 62 major improvement schemes completed in the year. I am somewhat hesitant to enter into the realms of prophecy but, if we can maintain that progress, the arrears will have been disposed of in 15 to 20 years. Thereafter, there should be little difficulty in dealing with the 50 or so new cases a year which is the normal rate of obsolescence and deterioration of the buildings.
This year we are asking for £1,600,000 for the work—a new record. We hope to be able to spend it all. The ground work which has to be done in the acquisition of sites, preparation of plans, etc., often takes an inordinate amount of time. Many difficulties can arise—not the least of which is the maintaining of an adequate professional staff. We have a good team on the job at present and everything possible will be done to maintain the present rate of progress so as to ensure the completion of the programme of work within the period of time estimated for it.
The provision of £6,000 under Sub-head BB—coast protection—is for the continuance of the survey and experimental works in connection with the coast erosion problem at Rosslare Strand, County Wexford.
The increase in Subhead C—Maintenance and Supplies—is due partly to wage increases in the building trades and partly to extensive maintenance works at some of the older public buildings and a higher incidence of routine maintenance at others.
The provision for Furniture, Fittings and Utensils, Subhead D.1., is little changed, and that for the Central Furniture Stores, Subhead D. 2., is the same as before. The increase in Subhead E —Rents, Rates, etc., covers sundry rents and rates increases, the cost of acquisition of additional office accommodation principally in connection with the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme and the payment of rent in advance for the premises at Bonn which are occupied by the Irish representative to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The reduction in the provision for Subhead F—Fuel, Light, Water, Cleaning, etc.—is due partly to a decrease in the prices of solid fuel, partly to the transfer of charges for water supplies to Vote 25 and partly to the transfer of certain premises to An Foras Talúntais.
The provision under minor Subheads G., H.I., and I. scarcely calls for any comment.
The provision of £10,500 under Sub-head H. 2.—River Shannon Navigation (Grant in Aid)—is required to make good an anticipated deficit in the Shannon Navigation Fund Account. The increase in the estimated deficit is due to a continued downward trend in traffic coupled with increased maintenance requirements which cannot be deferred.
Under Subhead J.1., provision is made for the continuation of arterial drainage surveys and of the preliminary investigation of the River Shannon Flood Problem.
An increase of £120,000 is made in the provision under Subhead J.2 for arterial drainage construction works, the programme for which will attain a broadened stage of development in 1959-60. In addition to the schemes covered in last year's estimate, provision is made for four new catchment schemes, two major schemes—the Moy and the Inny—which have been exhibited, and two minor schemes—the Clareen and the Ballyteige and Kilmore —on which works have been commenced. A sum of £12,000 is included for the Bunratty-Rineanna Embankment Scheme on which work is proceeding. The provision for expenditure on additional minor schemes expected to be commenced within the year has been raised from £12,000 to £30,000: work on a large embankment scheme in the Fergus estuary will be commenced shortly. The Corrib-Clare Scheme is still at peak level. The provision for the recently commenced Maine Catchment Scheme is increased by £25,000 to allow for development of that work this year. The Nenagh and the Feale Schemes are drawing to a close and require smaller provisions.
The expenditure under Subhead J.5 —Arterial Drainage—Maintenance is recoverable from the county councils concerned.
The largest increase, amounting to £195,000 occurs under Subhead K— Purchase and Maintenance of Engineering Plant and Machinery, and Stores. The increased plant and machinery are required to serve the expanding programme of Arterial Drainage Construction Work. Provision has been made for the addition of a substantial number of excavators to the present fleet and for miscellaneous other plant.
A decrease of £4,766 in Appropriations-in-Aid is due principally to a reduction in the amount of dredging and other marine works carried out for the Department of Industry and Commerce and the impending completion of construction work on the Oweno-garney catchment drainage scheme which is a National Development Fund undertaking. The arterial drainage maintenance expenditure recoverable for 1959-60 from local authorities will also be somewhat less as, last year, maintenance expenditure on the Glyde and Dee Scheme was recoverable for part of 1957-58 as well as for 1958-59.
These reductions are offset in part by an increase of £20,000 in estimated receipts from harbour tolls due to raising the harbour dues payable by mail boats at Dún Laoghaire.
This account of the various subheads is necessarily condensed but it gives the essential information concerning them. I shall endeavour in my reply to give such further information as may appear, from Deputies' discussion of them, to be necessary. There is a general and pressing demand for the main services provided for by these Votes, and a well-organised and vigorous effort is being made to meet it. That effort is becoming more efficient with time, but its increasing output requires progressively more money. That is why the Dáil is now asked to vote a larger sum than was spent in any previous year.
I move:—
"That the Estimate be referred back for reconsideration."
These Votes do not bring any joy to me. They never did, coming from the constituency from which I come. I shall not go into that now, but I should like to deal with a matter which I feel would tend towards better administration, and towards giving me or whoever might be in my place here a better opportunity of replying to the Parliamentary Secretary. I refer to my being supplied with a copy of his speech. This is evidently something which happened on another occasion and I want to go on record by quoting from the Dáil Debates of 2nd May, 1957. At column 713, Deputy Sweetman said:—
I regret that the Parliamentary Secretary did not follow the example of the Minister who moved this Estimate, the Minister for Education, who, for the convenience of Deputies, circulated a copy of his speech as he was rising. If the Parliamentary Secretary was ever on these benches in the last three years and did not get that courtesy when I was over there, I regret it, but I think it is a courtesy that assists Deputies on all sides of the House and one which we might agree, no matter who is on that side of the House or on this, should be carried out in the future.
I agree that is something which should be carried out. It is very confusing to have to try to take notes as a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary is introducing his Vote, not only because the matter is being dealt with in a slipshod way, but it is very serious business when we are dealing with estimated expenditure here in Dáil Éireann.
Might I ask the Deputy if he got a copy of the list of works which I had circulated to Deputies?
No, I did not.
The list of works I had circulated?
Yes; I got that list.
The list gives the Deputy all the essential information.
I know that, but, at the same time, I should like to have got a copy of the speech because I am sure there is some kind of policy behind the Estimate for the Board of Works. Why do they go to certain places? Why do they do certain works? What brings them there? I made a note about Rosslare. When I first came into this House, that was a hardy annual, and at that time Deputy Allen used to thunder about the danger of Rosslare being wiped out by the sea, and about inundation and coast erosion, as did Deputy Esmonde and Deputy Corish, but the thunder did not seems to come and the sea spoke for them, and smashed its way through what I would not call a sea wall—it was a row of sandhills—and threatened Rosslare. Then, and only then, did the Board of Works start this survey they are doing at the present time, and to which I have no objection, which I think is good, because I am always glad to see some of this money from the Board of Works coming to the east of the country. In view of the example the Parliamentary Secretary and his office have got from what has happened in Rosslare, may I remind him that we have a very fine resort in Tramore?
In Tramore, there is a promenade which was built in 1912. That was before the Parliamentary Secretary or any of the people here in this House, had anything to do with building promenades or breakwaters. That promenade goes down only a small portion of the foreshore, and two miles of the foreshore are there with nothing but the sand and the stones which the sea and God put there. A few years ago, the sea burst through and it looked as if the whole of that foreshore would be inundated. Behind that foreshore, there are seven or eight hundred acres of what was once a very fine racecourse, and there was a bank there that kept out the sea, but about 1910, or 1911, that bank was broken down by the sea.
I am informed on very good authority that a few hundred pounds at the time would have repaired it, but it was neglected and the whole thing went to waste. I believe that in another Department a report was obtained from some foreign experts, and these foreign experts said the place was irreclaimable. I think it would be well worth while surveying this, even in the teeth of the foreign experts' report, because it was reclaimed with Irish brawn, when they had nothing but pick-axes and shovels, and baskets to bring the clay there, and they were able to keep the sea out with it. Why it could not be reclaimed now, with modern equipment and modern technique, and with some of the machinery for which we have the big increase of £195,000 on sub-head K, I do not know.
I say this with a certain amount of envy because on going through the Estimates I happened to turn over page 44, Vote 9, and I came across the following heading: "Arterial Drainage —Construction Works (No. 3 of 1945)". I think it would be better if I read it out. It states "Chatchment Drainage Scheme: Corrib-Clare, £2,120,000; Feale £1,285,000; Maine £760,000"—then we get down to Kerry. That is quite a way from Connacht. How did that happen? It continues "Nenagh, £310,000; Bally teigue and Kilmore, £95,000"—always in the small change—"Clareen, £40,000; Inny, £1,750,000; Moy, £2,960,000; Existing Embankments (Bunratty—Rineanna), £33,000." I made a rough total and that amounts to £9,260,000, but there is not 2½d. being spent on the eastern side of the country. We must have very well conducted rivers and streams there that do not seem to need anything to be done with them.
I should like to draw attention to the river Suir that flows through the place where I was born, Mooncoin. There is a little tributary of that called St. John's Pill and for the past 100 years, there was a bog in Kilbarryo in Waterford. The people were always trying to drain the Kilbarryo bog. They put up schemes during the famine time. The land was not so bad in those days and something could be done with it, but as time went on, the land became inundated.
In my time in local affairs in Waterford, there was a scheme by the Board of Works, put up during what are called "The hungry 'thirties." That was not a time to go to farmers and say: "We will reclaim this swamp for you. We will not guarantee it will be the best land in the world, but you will have to pay only so much." At that time, the farmers were not in a mood to pay anything. As a matter of fact, I do not think they could, but leave that as it is.
Turning to arterial drainage, in recent years, the Tramore road has been flooded and local engineers say it is because the Pill needs to be drained, that is, the St. John's River now, the Pill going down to the Suir. Two streams at each side going out the Tramore road require attention and these innocent people in Waterford could think of nothing but how much it would cost the ratepayers and the harbour board.
Innocent people?
Yes; they would not be as clever as the Galway people who come down here screaming for a grant of £500,000 and then settle for £200,000. Would the Board of Works make a survey there, or will it be necessary to wait until there are floods up to our necks before they send someone down?
I particularly draw the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary to this matter. They would not be looking for a big sum of money and I think the scheme should be tackled again. The local authority owns practically all of the land concerned, and I think an approach should be made to reclaim it in the same manner as an approach is being made in the other places I have mentioned.
Are the people going into liquidation there?
No, they are not. The only trouble is that they are an independent people, and were always keen on doing their own work, and never asking anyone to do anything for them. Now they say they are taxpayers, just the same as taxpayers anywhere else, and they say they are entitled to their share of public moneys, just the same as other taxpayers in other counties, districts, and places throughout the country. We should put our own house in order.
