I assume that with the permission of the Dáil I will continue the usual practice of taking Vote 10 (Office of Public Works) and Vote 11 (Public Works and Buildings) together, as they cover practically the same ground. On Vote 10 not many points require notice. It will be observed that there is a small increase on sub-head A—Salaries, Wages, and Allowances—and if the details are examined it will be seen that this is due in the main to three items—an improvement in the scale of pay of temporary engineers engaged for arterial drainage work, the addition of a temporary draughtsman to the engineer's branch, and the addition of six temporary junior architectural assistants in the architectural drawing office. The first of these points, the improvement in the pay of temporary engineers engaged for arterial drainage, has been for some time pressed upon us by representatives of the engineering profession, and was once or twice raised in this House. The scale of pay has been somewhat improved—the maximum raised from £250 to £350—in order to give a little inducement to these young engineers to stay at this job for a few years when they have got the experience which makes them useful. The engineering draughtsman and the six temporary architectural assistants who are being added to the staff are required for the various new works we are undertaking. These works are shown in Vote 11.
Sub-head B—Travelling Expenses— shows a small decrease on the whole, but it includes a new item for travelling expenses of the National Monuments Advisory Council. This Council was appointed under the National Monuments Act, 1930, Section 21; it held its first meeting on the 10th September last, and has already shown itself a very active and energetic body. It has produced proposals for a general archaeological survey of the national monuments of Ireland, which are now under consideration by the Minister for Finance. These are all the points I think it necessary to mention on Vote 10.
In Vote 11, sub-head A—Purchase of Sites and Buildings. It continues to be necessary to purchase sites and buildings for housing the Gárda Síochána, for the new Preparatory Colleges, and for other purposes, but we hope to be able to reduce the expense a little this year.
Sub-head AA—Annuities. As explained on previous occasions, this is an annuity in repayment of an advance for the purchase of the site of the College of Science and Government Buildings, and the erection of the college; it comes to an end in 1933.
Sub-head B—New Works. There are some points of special interest here. The new works on the Oireachtas buildings may interest Deputies. The extension of hot-water heating is a small matter of economy; it will nearly supersede the use of coal fires in the offices, and will secure the rooms from deterioration when unoccupied. The heading "New Restaurant, Members' Rooms, etc.," refers to a connected series of works for improving the accommodation for members. The part to be begun in 1931-2 is the erection of a two-storey building facing Kildare Place, of which the principal purpose is to provide rooms for the Opposition members. Work No. 4—renewal of statues on the Dublin Custom House—is a small matter in money, but will, we hope, have a considerable effect in restoring the appearance of the building to what it was before it was burned. There were formerly four statues on the roof facing the river; they were so badly damaged by the fire that they had to be removed, and the front looks rather flat without them. Work No. 11—reconstruction of the Four Courts. We were somewhat delayed by the unfortunate dispute in the Dublin building trade, and it is doubtful if we shall be able to finish the work, as we expected, in time to move the courts in during the long vacation.
Now as to the barracks for the Gárda Síochána, Works Nos. 17 to 101. The form in which the Estimates are drawn up to meet the requirements of this House, showing every individual new work separately, makes it rather hard to see the general position. As I explained last year (on 8th May, 1930, col. 1555 of the Report), there was a partial suspension of work on these barracks in 1929-30 for the sake of economy. Any stoppage of that kind has far-reaching effects. When you are dealing with a great number of comparatively small buildings you must keep on continuously finding sites, negotiating with landlords, preparing plans, etc., etc., unless you wish to have great delay. The consequence of the stoppage in 1929-30 was that we have only been able to spend £30,000 in 1930-31. In the coming year, 1931-32, we hope to get into something like full swing again and spend £58,000. It is very desirable to get this business of housing the Gárda finished so far as it ever can be finished—that is, to provide a reasonably satisfactory barrack in every station. There are over 800 stations outside Dublin. Dublin is a separate matter. The first problem was to find a barrack of any kind in each station; that was substantially done by 1925, but many of the barracks were wretched places, fit only for temporary use. Since then we have been building, buying, renting, and adapting houses, and we have got rid of most of the worst barracks, but there are still some bad ones, and a good many more cases in which a better barrack is desirable. It will probably take three or four years more to finish the job.
Work No. 102—Grants for National Schools. This is an important part of our duties. The sum provided for grants is the same as last year, and the work of building and improving schools is going on at a good pace.
Works No. 105 to 110—Preparatory Colleges. These are large and important buildings. It will be observed that Coláiste Brighde at Ballyconnell, Co. Donegal, is nearly finished. Some additional work will be necessary in order to improve the water supply. It is occupied. Coláiste Einne, at Furbough, Co. Galway, is hardly begun, as the vendor of the land has so far failed to get a satisfactory title on which we can safely build. Coláiste Ide, Dingle, Co. Kerry, is finished and occupied. Coláiste Muire, Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo, is occupied, though there is some work still to do, mainly in the grounds. Work will, we hope, begin in 1931-32 on the new preparatory college at Ballyvourney in Co. Cork, and on the preparatory college to be made by adaptation of part of the buildings of the former Hibernian Military School in the Phoenix Park. There is also a larger undertaking, the new training college at Galway, already sanctioned by the Dáil; we secured the site during 1930-31, and hope to begin building in 1931-32.
Passing on to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Work No. 127, the completion of the General Post Office in Dublin was delayed by the building trade dispute, but is now proceeding. Work No. 129 is important. There is only a token Vote for it, because we do not expect to get to work this year, as a great deal of planning and preparation will be necessary. The proposal is to erect in Pearse Street, adjacent to Westland Row Station, a large building in which letter-sorting, parcel-sorting, and, I believe, other services can be concentrated, with considerable consequent economy in the working of the postal service.
Work No. 137—the erection of the high-power wireless station—is important. We are at present engaged in finding a site. For the Department of Defence we hope to finish the work proposed at Baldonnel Aerodrome. It was delayed by the building trades dispute. We are continuing the restoration of the Michael Collins Barracks at Cork (Work No. 142) for the rather large force of reserve battalions and permanent staff stationed there. The items for which this year's Vote provides are (a) quarters for unmarried officers, (b) mess and canteen for sergeants, and (c) district offices. The two items for dining halls and food stores, etc., at Kilbride and Kilworth rifle ranges (Works Nos. 143 and 144) are very necessary, if the troops are to take full advantage of the facilities for rifle practice in those rather remote and inaccessible places.
I think no other new work calls for special notice, nor do I wish to make any observation on any other sub-heads of the Vote except those for drainage maintenance and arterial drainage— Sub-heads J (1), (2), (3) and (4). Sub-head J (1)—Drainage Maintenance— shows a decrease to £1,000. It is not expected that any fresh scheme of restoration will be undertaken in the year 1931-32. The estimate of £1,000 is for expenses of charging orders, etc., in districts already completed. Sub-head J (2)—Arterial Drainage— shows an increase of £7,000, indicating that we expect to do a little more work and spend a little more money in 1931 than in 1930. The provision represents, of course, only the free grants by the Government. I went pretty fully into this matter of arterial drainage last year (8th May, 1930, cols. 1558-1565 of the Report), and gave a great number of figures. I do not propose to go over them again, but I will give those relating to schemes actually submitted to the occupiers for their votes. I stated in May, 1930, that up to that time 46 schemes had been submitted to occupiers of land; the corresponding figure is now 57. The number of schemes accepted by the votes of the occupiers was then 32; it is now 42. The number of schemes on which actual work on the lands had begun was then 18; it is now 24. The number of schemes in which the works were finished was then 5; it is now 18. These few figures indicate the steady progress of the work.
As regards the Barrow drainage, sub-head J (3), as I explained last year, the small Vote of £5,000 for the Barrow does not by any means represent the amount of work to be done; we expect to spend some £48,000, but most of this will be loan money, and will be charged to Vote 8—Local Loans. The scheme is going on well, and will, we expect, be concluded in about three years from now.
The estimate of £5,000 is for the free grant only; the total estimate for the year is £48,000, of which £43,000 will be provided from the Local Loans Fund (Vote 8), and £5,000 on this Vote. The expenditure during 1930-31 was £62,000. The lesser expenditure anticipated during 1931-32 is not because we expect to do less excavation, but because we expect to do it more cheaply, and the reason of this is that a smaller part of it will be on the Lower Barrow (between Athy and Monasterevan), where the bottom is hard and the river large, and a greater part on the Upper Barrow and the tributaries, where the work is easier, and, therefore, cheaper per cube yard excavated.
During the year ending 31/3/'31 an output of 588,616 cubic yards of soft and rock excavation has been effected, bringing the excavation total for the year practically to the equal of all previous output. The greater part of the excavation of the main river has now been done, and excavation has been begun and has progressed well on the following tributaries:—The Finnery River, the Stradbally River, the Figile River, the Upper Barrow.
In addition, under-pinning and repairs have been carried out to the Town Bridge and Spa Lane Bridge, Portarlington, and some smaller bridges.
The total expenditure on the work up to 31st March, 1931, was £289,000. Owing to the operations of the mechanical excavators, eleven of which are employed, the unit costs of the excavation are kept low. They vary in different circumstances, but a great deal of work is now being done at 1/3 per cube yard.
In winter the average number of men employed is about 220, and in summer, owing to double shifting the machines, the number rises to about 520.
The beneficial effect produced by the works already upon the flooded and damaged lands has been most pronounced.
Sub-head J (4)—Purchase of Machinery. We are still increasing our small stock of drag-line excavators. We bought two in the financial year 1928-9; in the financial year 1930-31 we estimated to buy five, and have done so, and we estimate to buy five more in the coming year 1931-32. It is the use of these machines which enables us to carry out work under the Arterial Drainage Acts as cheaply as we do.
I do not think there is anything else to call for comment by me. If there are any other points on which Deputies want information I will be quite willing to enlighten them.