This matter is completely ruled by statute. Sub-head A, dealing with salaries, wages and allowances, shows in so far as the two sub-heads, Mercantile Marine Offices and Survey Services, are concerned, an increase of about £300. Deputies will notice that there has been an increase of one in the personnel attached to the Mercantile Marine Office. That one is an extra clerical officer, and that represents an increase in the Vote of about £250. There are, of course, savings on the Vote, the savings being equalled by certain other advances. Of the two clerical officers, one is attached to the superintendent and the other to the deputy superintendent, the superintendent having to deal with Dublin, and the deputy superintendent being located in Cork. The other increases, with the exception of that £250 due to the extra clerical officer, are due entirely to annual increases in salaries and bonuses.
The other service, the Survey service, while keeping the same numbers, shows a saving of about £10. Sub-head B also shows a decrease from £968 to £730 this year. It includes a miscellaneous collection of items such as the provision of uniforms, payment of legal expenses, medals for presentation for gallantry at sea, technical newspapers and matters of that type. On sub-head BB £10 is set down to cover possible cost of any inquiry that may arise into any accident to shipping. There was one such big inquiry, and the actual cost was much more than £10. That was an inquiry into the loss of the "Lismore" some years ago. The £10 would represent the nominal sum likely to be brought into payment in any year in the case of an accident. If there were more than one or two accidents in a year that sum would require to be very definitely increased. Sub-head C shows somewhat of a saving on the Estimate, but it is not very much; it amounts to only £17. It is founded on the experience of what the ordinary cost is. Sub-head D stands at the same figure as last year. It is an item largely recoverable and the other side is shown in sub-head G. The same remarks apply to sub-head E, relief of distressed seamen. Most of it is recoverable, and would be represented by portion of the money indicated in sub-head G.
Coast Life-Saving Service stands pretty much as last year's figures with one exception. The cost of telephones shows an increase of about £56, due to the fact that there has been a better linking up of the various officers in connection with the Coast Life-Saving Service. More stations are joined up than last year, and that accounts for the increase. All the other items stand as they were, except that there is a saving of £30 in rents for rocket houses, watch huts and exercise grounds, but against that there is an increase in the allowance paid to the store-keeper. The amount mentioned, £1,700, represents what is paid for the main charges of the Coast Life-Saving Service. It is mainly a volunteer service, but the No. 1 and No. 2 men at all stations are paid. I think the No. 1 man gets £15 and the No. 2, £10, but in some stations the figures fall to £12 and £6. The other payments are for drills that are done by the volunteer crews, so that the £1,700 represents pretty well the expenditure on the Coast Life-Saving Service in so far as payments to the personnel are concerned. I omit the separate payments to the Inspector, two superintendents and the store-keeper, which are set out in the Estimate. The appropriations-in-aid are estimated to bring in a larger amount this year than last year owing to the fact that the fee for the survey of ships has been raised.
This Vote shows a net decrease of £2,000. I understand that the £4,600 set aside as the estimate for the cost of the Coast Life-Saving is to be compared with an item of £20,000 which was the cost for a similar service before the Free State took it over.
