Go ndeonófar suim fhorlíontach nach mó ná £10 chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1962, le haghaidh Óglaigh na hÉireann (lena n-áirítear Deontais-i-gCabhair áirithe) faoi na hAchtanna Cosanta, 1954 agus 1960 (Uimh. 18 de 1954 agus Uimh. 44 de 1960), agus le haghaidh Costais áirithe riaracháin i ndáil leis an gcéanna; le haghaidh Costais 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); le haghaidh Costais i ndáil le Boinn a thabhairt amach, etc., agus le haghaidh Deontas-i-gCabhair do Chumann Croise Deirge na hÉireann (Uimh. 32 de 1938).
The introduction of this Supplementary Estimate becomes necessary mainly because expenditure under Subhead P (Defensive Equipment) of the Vote for Defence for the present financial year will be substantially greater than the voted provision and because it is proposed to utilise additional receipts by way of Appropriations-in-Aid. There will also be increased expenditure, because of recent increases in salaries, pay and allowances, under Subhead A—Pay of Officers, etc.; Subhead B—Marriage Allowance; Subhead G—Subsistence and other Allowances; and Subhead Y—Departmental Salaries, etc. Under Subhead F, there is provision for the replacement of stores issued from stock on repayment to the United Nations for use in the Congo; under Subhead P2, there is provision for the cost of the purchase and repair, etc., of the yacht "Asgard", and there is also increased expenditure under Subhead AA in respect of the Special Criminal Court. The gross total additional expenditure under all these subheads is estimated at £278,827.
The net provision for defensive equipment in this year's Vote is £149,051, consisting of £20,130 to meet sums outstanding in respect of equipment ordered in previous financial years and a net sum of £128,921 for new purchases. The total expenditure under this heading will, it is now estimated, be £280,051, consisting of £44,055 in respect of equipment ordered in previous financial years but not delivered until the current year—a matter over which we really have no control—and £235,996 in respect of new purchases. It is expected that there will, therefore, be a net excess of £131,000 on the subhead. Subsequent to the framing of the Estimate for 1961/62, conditions in the Congo, where some of our troops were serving, changed by reason of the resolution adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations on the 21st February, 1961, authorising the use of force, if necessary, by the United Nations forces there. Deputies will, no doubt, recollect that my predecessor in office, when speaking on the Estimate for the present financial year, assured the House that the question of the equipment of our troops serving in the Congo was being kept constantly under review and that any additional equipment considered necessary in the light of experience or changed conditions would be supplied and no effort spared to make it readily available.
In the light of the changed circumstances, it was decided to purchase a quantity of up-to-date small arms and ammunition for our troops in the Congo to enable them more effectively to discharge their role there, as well as a quantity for the training of the troops at home in their use. These purchases were financed as far as possible by the curtailment of purchases of other types of defensive equipment, leaving the net estimated excess expenditure of £131,000 already mentioned.
Concurrently with the decision to purchase the small arms and ammunition to which I have referred, it was decided to dispose of a quantity of obsolescent small arms and ammunition. As a result of such disposal and additional receipts in other respects, Appropriations in Aid are now expected to amount to £157,755 more than originally estimated.
Deputies are aware that the Government decided to purchase the yacht "Asgard" because of its historical associations. The cost, together with fees, repairs and sundry other items, amounted to £6,040 approximately. After purchase and repair, the yacht was, at the end of last July, taken over by a crew provided by my Department and brought to Howth for the reception ceremony. She will, from now on, have a limited use, in connection with the training of members of an Slua Muiri at Dún Laoghaire.
It is proposed to apply the increased Appropriations in Aid which I have mentioned, together with anticipated savings on other subheads, to meeting the additional expenditure about which I have spoken, necessitating only a token Vote of £10.