On section 38, amendment No. 65 has been discussed with amendment No. 58.
SECTION 38.
Amendment No. 65 not moved.
Question proposed: "That section 38 stand part of the Bill."
Is this part of a greater scheme for the Minister to claw back a few shillings to central funds that might otherwise be dispersed at a lower level? Why does the Minister need to take this power unto himself now? What is happening to the money at the moment, for example?
The Deputy knows that these funds go directly to the Exchequer.
If they do, why do you need this section?
The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Order, 1958, requires that all sums received by the District Court in respect of fines for road tax offences must be lodged to the Central Motor Tax Account and allows a more streamlined procedure to be used in the disposal of the moneys by removing reference to the Central Motor Tax Account. The new procedures for the disposal of the moneys will be subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance.
I have that in my explanatory memorandum.
I have no ulterior motives.
But what is happening to the money at the moment to make this section necessary?
It goes to the Central Exchequer.
And what are you proposing will happen to it when it goes to the Central Exchequer?
These are decisions that will have to be taken for the future with the approval of the Minister for Finance.
I may be dense but given that explanation I cannot understand the difference between the present procedure and what the Minister is proposing. Is he lifting it out of the local district court office?
It is simplifying and streamlining what has been a reasonably cumbersome system under which moneys went to the Departments of Justice and the Environment and then to the Department of Finance. Now it will go directly to one Department. We are trying to apply that in many other areas as well. There is what is called a circular route where funds go——
Could it not be left locally for the improvement of the District Court we have heard so much about recently?
This is the kind of proposal which time and time again is made by Deputies who really——
——do not know what they are talking about.
No, not so much that, but who do not think out the implications.
We are tired waiting on Central Funds to look after our courts. A bird in the hand, you know — the few bob you might collect you want to keep.
I am not one for interrupting when other people are making their contributions. I want to say that the amount of resources spent on roads is substantially greater than any income that comes directly from that source. However, one way or the other, the obligation on the Government to decide to allocate resources to meet needs is central to our democratic system. If moneys dedicated or received for a particular purpose could only be spent dealing with that particular area, from where would the budget for social welfare and education come? That is the reason overall decisions about finance — where it goes and how it is raised — have to be taken at central level. Some areas would enjoy great luxuries if they could command all the resources that are raised in or about them, and other areas would be totally starved as Deputy Doyle, in her innocence, knows.
Question put and agreed to.