asked the Minister for Finance to state (a) whether, for the purpose of preparing the Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure, which, in accordance with the provisions of Article 54 of the Constitution, were prepared by the Executive Council and presented to Dáil Eireann, for each of the years ending 31st March, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932, respectively, he required the Electricity Supply Board from time to time to furnish him with an estimate of their probable requirements under Section 12 (3) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927, during each of the years afore-mentioned; (b) whether the Electricity Supply Board did in fact submit such estimates to him; and, if so, to state the amount of the estimate for each of the years afore-mentioned, and the date upon which it was received by him; (c) the actual amount of the advances made by the Minister to the Electricity Supply Board under Section 12 (3) of the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1927 to 1930, in each of the years ending 31st March, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively; and to state the total amount advanced by the Minister under this section at the 31st March, 1930.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Shannon Scheme.
The Electricity Supply Board was requested to furnish in advance estimates of its requirements for the financial years 1928-29, 1929-30, and 1930-31. The Board was not asked to show separately its estimated requirements under Section 12 (3) of the Act of 1927. The amounts estimated, the dates on which the estimates were received in my Department, and the amounts actually advanced to the Board are as follows:—
Year. |
Estimate of requirements furnished by the Board. |
Date received |
Amount advanced. |
Amount advanced under Section 12 (3) as amended. |
£ |
£ |
£ |
||
1927-28 |
— |
— |
12,000 |
12,000 |
1928-29 |
1,000,000 |
3rd February, 1928 |
263,000 |
263,000 |
1929-30 |
800,000 |
2nd March, 1929 |
681,974 |
675,000 |
1930-31 |
1,250,000 |
14th March, 1930 |
1,056,412 |
953,688 |
An estimate was not asked for in respect of 1927/28 as the Board was not established until August, 1927. An estimate was not asked for in respect of 1931/32 in view of the limitation on the amount which could be advanced to the Board.
The total amount advanced under Section 12 (3) of the Electricity Supply Act, 1927, as amended, was £950,000 at the 31st March, 1930.