I move:—
Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £2,800 chun íochta an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1938, chun Costaisí Ilghnéitheacha áirithe, maraon le Deontaisí áirithe i gCabhair.
That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £2,800 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1938, for certain Miscellaneous Expenses including certain Grants-in-Aid.
As it is clear from the face of it this Supplementary Estimate makes provision for a special grant to the National Theatre Society Limited, to defray portion of the cost of certain structural alterations to the Abbey Theatre. I met a deputation of the directors of that society in January last who informed me that the Dublin Corporation had served them with notice to carry out such structural alterations in the Abbey Theatre as were necessary to comply with the by-laws relating to public safety. They asked for a Government grant to meet the cost, which they estimated at £3,500, the deputation pointing out that if the theatre were called upon to bear the expenditure of this amount, its continuance would be imperilled. I had to agree that that was likely in view of the fact that there had been losses on the working of the Abbey Theatre for many years. For instance they lost £1,206 in 1932-33, £1,531 in 1933-34, £2,523 in 1934-35, £3,020 in 1935-36 and £17 in 1936-37. I felt that in view of the high standing of the theatre, the valuable work which it has done for Irish drama, and the place which it occupies in our cultural life, it was but right to approach the Dáil for authority to make a special grant of 80 per cent. of the cost of the alterations subject to a maximum payment to the society of £2,800. The society will be required to furnish a copy of the specification, together with a copy of the accepted tender. The payment of the special grant will be made on production of the receipt of the contractor who carries out the work, or, if desired, in instalments as the work proceeds. The special grant of £1,000, provided for in the original Estimate, will be paid as usual.