The original net Estimate for the period 1st April, 1974, to 31st December, 1974, was £14,981,000. The Supplementary Estimate now required is £3,060,000 and is necessary to meet increases in the cost of the services rendered by the Office of Public Works.
The gross additional amount required, £3,549,000, is offset partly by an estimated increase in Appropriations-in-Aid and partly by estimated savings on certain subheads of the Vote, leaving a net requirement of £3,060,000.
The main item in the Supplementary Estimate is the additional sum of £2,470,000 required under subhead E for the building of national schools.
On 5th November, 1974, when I was concluding the debate on the original Estimate for Public Works and Buildings, I said that expenditure from State funds in the current nine months would be in excess of £6,500,000. I am happy to say now that it has been found possible to allocate a further £1 million to maintain the rapid rate of progress with this very important programme. Since I came into office, progress on this service has accelerated; expenditure for the nine months, April to December, 1972, was £2,776,000 and for the same period in 1973 it was £4,838,000. The £7,500,000 being provided for the current nine months, therefore, represents a vast increase on previous rates of expenditure, even when allowance is made for higher building costs, and it shows the level of commitment to the programme for the provision of special schools for the handicapped, the speedy provision of schools in new housing areas and the improvement of accommodation in other areas where existing schools are below modern standards.
Other increases under this subhead, amounting to £91,000, are due mainly to faster progress by contractors than had been expected. I might mention two projects in particular — the restoration of the picture gallery wing at Kilkenny Castle and the provision of a visitor centre at Dunmore Cave. I am very glad to report also that good progress is being made with the new offices for the Department of Lands as Castlebar. More money is needed for the provision of multipurpose ship facilities at Dún Laoghaire harbour. This work was expected to commence last year but had to be deferred to fit in with British Railways' arrangements at Holyhead. Consequently, a greater portion of the work than had been envisaged had to be done this year.
The other subheads for which additional amounts are required are B, Travelling and Incidental Expenses, £15,000; F.1, Maintenance and Supplies, £133,000; F.2, Furniture et cetera, £166,000; F.3, Rents, Rates et cetera, £350,000; F.4, Fuel, Light et cetera, £270,000; F.5, Compensation in respect of damage to property of external Governments, £30,000; H, Purchase and maintenance of engineering plant, machinery and stores, £9,000 and J.2, conservation and Restoration of Holycross Abbey —Grant-in-Aid, £15,000.
Increased costs have made their impact on most of these subheads but there are a number of other factors contributing to the additional expenditure which I shall mention briefly.
The increase under subhead B is due partly to an increase in the rates payable for travelling and subsistence and partly to the increased amount of travelling abroad necessary in connection with new embassy premises.
Subhead F.1 covers the cost of maintaining State property and better progress than had been expected has been achieved in the current nine months.
In the case of subhead F.2 heavier expenditure than had been expected was incurred due to increased demands which had to be met.
The additional sum required for subhead F.3 is due partly to the need to rent additional accommodation to house staff in this country and for embassies abroad where another factor has been the changes in the value of sterling in relation to other currencies.
The increase under subhead F.5 is due to the fact that rehabilitation work on the former British Embassy building is proceeding more rapidly and is proving more costly than expected and that bomb damage to French Government property in Kildare Street in May, 1974, has to be made good.
Additional receipts of £260,000 are forecast under subhead K, Appropriations-in-Aid, due to increased buoyancy under a number of headings.
