Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Feb 1929

Vol. 28 No. 2

Public Business. - Vote 28—Universities and Colleges.

Mr. Blythe

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim ná raghaidh thar £4,824 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1929, chun Deontaisí i gCabhair do Chostaisí Fundúireachta Príomh-Scoile, maraon le Deontaisí fén Irish Universities Act, 1908, agus fén Acht Talmhan, 1923, agus fén Acht um Oideachas Phríomh-Scoile (Talmhaíocht agus Eolaíocht Déiríochta), 1926.

That a sum not exceeding £4,824 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1929, for Grants in Aid of the Expenses of University Institutions, including Grants under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, the Land Act, 1923, and the University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act, 1926.

This Supplementary Vote is taken for the purpose of providing the National University—that is the University as distinct from the Constituent Colleges —with funds for the acquisition of premises for its general purposes and for making permanent improvements to the premises required. Under Section 15 of the University Education (Agricultural and Dairy Science) Act, 1926, the grant for the acquisition of premises was not to exceed £4,000, and the grant for improvements was fixed at £900. In return for this grant the National University agreed at the time the Bill was being framed to sell premises which they had acquired under Section 7, subsection (3) of the Irish Universities Act, 1908. It is provided by Section 14 of the Act of 1926 that the proceeds will be paid into the Exchequer. The premises that are to be sold by the University have not all been disposed of, but three houses have been sold. 60, 61, and 62 Upper Mount Street have been sold. They have realised £3,892, which has been paid into the Exchequer. When the remaining houses have been sold the amount obtained will substantially exceed the amount that is now being asked for for the University. The University bought the houses originally for the purpose of erecting university premises on the sites; they intended to have them pulled down. There remain to be sold numbers 55, 56, 57 Upper Mount Street, and 29 and 30 Lower Fitzwilliam Street. The University had got plans for the erection of University buildings. Then, when the war broke out, this was stopped and the houses have been let since. Of course, the idea of a University building, such as was contemplated originally, has been abandoned, and the University have now purchased a couple of houses. They have purchased two houses in Merrion Square, Nos. 48 and 49, and expended the £900 provided or rather more on permanent improvements. They will serve as University buildings. As to the other houses which were bought out of the Parliamentary grant, they will be sold, the whole lot, and the proceeds paid into the Exchequer. Three of them have been sold and have realised almost £4,000. The remaining houses will be sold as rapidly as possible.

Mr. Fahy

Are we to understand from the Minister that the Treasury will be recouped when they sell out every house?

Mr. Blythe

Yes, a good deal more. As against this £4,824 which we are now voting we have already received £3,892 out of the proceeds of Nos. 60, 61 and 62 Upper Mount Street. There remain to be sold Nos. 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 Upper Mount Street, together with 29 and 30 Lower Fitzwilliam Street. When they are sold the proceeds will be paid into the Exchequer.

Mr. Fahy

I notice grants to the National University under Section 15 of the University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act. Is it proposed to erect a new building and use that in connection with a chair of agriculture, or what exact purpose do these grants serve?

Mr. Blythe

No. Originally, under the Act of 1908, it was arranged that a sum of £140,000 would be allocated to the University as distinct from the colleges for University buildings. At that time it was contemplated that there should be University buildings on an extensive scale and these houses were purchased. It was intended to pull them down and to erect University buildings on the site. The war intervened and no University buildings were erected. The University let these houses and carried on in a couple of houses in one of these squares. Now it appears there is no need for University buildings on that scale. When the University Education (Agriculture and Dairy Science) Act was being passed it was decided formally to abandon by legislation the idea of extensive University buildings. It is provided that the University would be given a fresh grant of £4,000 to purchase existing premises for a University building and a sum not exceeding £900 to effect permanent improvements. In exchange for that new grant the houses that had been purchased for so much of the £40,000 that had been expended—about £13,000—should be sold and the proceeds paid into the Exchequer. The University have now purchased buildings that are to be permanent and have effected improvements, and the payment which is to be made under the Act falls due. We have already received the sum of £3,892 from the University, and we will obtain as the other houses are disposed of a further substantial sum.

Mr. Briscoe

I would ask the Minister for Finance if he would make this point clear. I understand from the Minister that the scheme that he spoke of as having been abandoned was abandoned before the introduction of the original Estimates, that this actual expenditure was a new departure, and that in fact the £13,000 that would result from the sale of the houses would come into the Exchequer in the ordinary way.

Mr. Blythe

This was not in that Estimate at all because it did not fall due. The University had not carried out the improvements.

Vote put and agreed to.