asked the Minister for Defence why, when a Court of Inquiry had completed their investigations into deficiencies in the stores of an FCA battalion in February, 1961, the application to the Minister for Finance for permission to write off ledger charge the value of such deficiencies was delayed until the day on which the Estimate for the Department of Defence for 1962-63 came before the Dáil for debate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - FCA Battalion Stores Deficiencies.
32.
It is not the practice to seek the authority of the Minister for Finance to strike deficiencies off store ledger charge until the entire case can be presented to him, including any proposals for recoveries from persons held to be responsible. There was no avoidable delay in approaching the Minister for Finance in this particular case. That the application was made on the date mentioned by the Deputy must be regarded as entirely fortuitous.
33.
asked the Minister for Defence the amount which the Minister for Finance has authorised him to write off ledger charge in the case of loss by theft from the stores of an FCA battalion.
I have sought and obtained the sanction of the Minister for Finance to strike the deficient stores off store ledger charge. I have not yet sought his sanction in regard to the write-off of the loss to public funds, because that is not yet finally known.
34.
asked the Minister for Defence whether in the case of loss by theft from the stores of an FCA battalion it has been decided, or is proposed, to recover the value of any part of such loss by deduction from the pay of any officers or ex-officers other than the ex-officer from whom it is proposed to deduct £72 4s. 2d., and, if so, the total amount of such deduction.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part does not, therefore, arise.