asked the Minister for Transport and Power the profit or loss as the case may be for each State-sponsored body or company for which he is responsible for the last available year, stating such year; whether in each case depreciation was charged before the extraction of the profit or loss figure; and, in any case in which no such depreciation was charged, the amount of depreciation which he considers should have been charged if adequate profit was available, according to normal commercial practice.
Written Answers. - Finances of State-Sponsored Bodies
51.
The following is the information:—
State Companies/Boards under aegis of Minister for Transport and Power.
|
Name of Body |
Year ended |
Profit |
Loss |
Depreciation charged |
|
Aer Lingus Teoranta |
31/3/66 |
— |
63,539 |
Yes |
|
Aerlínte Éireann Teoranta |
31/3/66 |
1,078,820 |
— |
Yes |
|
Bord na Móna |
31/3/66 |
— |
1,606,754 |
Yes |
|
British and Irish Steampacket Co. Ltd. |
31/12/66 |
86,019 |
— |
Yes |
|
Córas Iompair Éireann |
31/3/66 |
— |
2,229,000 (a) |
Yes |
|
Electricity Supply Board |
31/3/66 |
240,794 |
— |
Yes |
|
Irish Shipping Ltd. |
31/3/67 |
— |
67,471 |
Yes |
|
Óstlanna Iompair Éireann |
31/3/66 |
54,955 |
— |
Yes |
NOTES:
(a) A grant of £2,000,000 was paid to C.I.E. under the Transport Act, 1964, making the net loss £229,000.
(b) No details have been included in respect of Aer Rianta Teoranta, Bord Fáilte Éireann or the Shannon Free Airport Development Company Limited, as they are non-trading organisations. Aer Rianta's main function is the management of Dublin Airport as agent of the Minister, while Bord Fáilte and the Shannon Free Airport Development Company are engaged in development work relating to tourism and Shannon Airport respectively. The accounts of these bodies are not, therefore, comparable with those of commercial organisations; appropriate provisions, are, however, made in their accounts in respect of depreciation.
52.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the profit or loss as the case may be for each State-sponsored body or company for which he is responsible for the last available year, stating such year; whether in each case depreciation was charged before the extraction of the profit or loss figure; and, in any case in which no such depreciation was charged, the amount of depreciation which he considers should have been charged if adequate profit was available, according to normal commercial practice.
Radio Telefís Éireann is the only State-sponsored body for which I have a responsibility. The last available accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1966, show a profit of £273,119. Depreciation was charged before this figure was extracted.
53.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the profit or loss as the case may be for each State-sponsored body or company for which he is responsible for the last available year, stating such year; whether in each case depreciation was charged before the extraction of the profit or loss figure; and, in any case in which no such depreciation was charged, the amount of depreciation which he considers should have been charged if adequate profit was available, according to normal commercial practice.
The relevant information is contained in the following table:
|
(a) Name of Body |
Year ended |
Profit (+) (b) loss (-) |
Whether depreciation charged before extraction of the profit or loss figure |
|
£ |
|||
|
An Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
31/3/66 |
–96,831 (c) |
Yes |
|
Dublin District Milk Board |
31/12/66 |
+8,849 |
Yes |
|
Cork District Milk Board |
31/12/66 |
+2,763 |
Yes |
|
Dairy Disposal Co. Ltd. and Associated Companies |
31/12/65 |
+91,475 |
Yes |
|
An Bord Gráin |
31/8/66 |
–73,226 |
Yes |
|
Bord na gCon |
31/12/66 |
+37,126 |
Yes |
|
Irish National Stud Co. Ltd. |
31/12/65 |
+22,032 |
Yes |
|
Irish Potato Marketing Co. Ltd. |
31/7/66 |
+80,892 |
Yes |
Notes:
(a) An Bord Bainne and the Pigs and Bacon Commission, which receive State subventions to meet losses on export trading, have been omitted. The Minister has responsibility for a number of other State sponsored bodies, but their activities are of a non-trading nature.
(b) Before deduction of Income Tax.
(c) This operating loss was incurred on that part of the Board's activities which were of a commercial nature.
54.
asked the Minister for Local Government the profit or loss as the case may be for each State-sponsored body or company for which he is responsible for the last available year, stating such year; whether in each case depreciation was charged before the extraction of the profit or loss figure; and, in any case in which no such depreciation was charged, the amount of depreciation which he considers should have been charged if adequate profit was available, according to normal commercial practice.
The following is the information required:—
1. An Foras Forbartha
An Foras Forbartha (The National Institute for Physical Planning and Construction Research) is concerned with the provision of research, information and training facilities in physical planning, building and roads. It operates almost wholly on the basis of annual Oireachtas grants-in-aid and on grants from the Road Fund. In the year to 31st March, 1966, the latest year for which audited accounts are available, the deficit was £5,101 8s 10d after charging depreciation on office furniture and equipment.
2. National Building Advisory Council
The functions of the National Building Advisory Council are advisory. The question of profit or loss on its operations does not therefore arise. The provision for the Council in the Department's estimate for 1967-68 is £25,000.
3. National Building Agency
As the accounts of the National Building Agency are not prepared on a trading basis, they do not show profit or loss. The income and expenditure accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1966, which have been laid before each house of the Oireachtas, show, however, a credit balance of £6,723 on the year's operations after charging £605 for depreciation.