Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Feb 1939

Vol. 74 No. 5

Committee on Finance. - Vote 11—Public Works and Buildings.

Mr. MacEntee

I move:—

Go ndeontar suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £10 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1939, chun caiteachais i dtaobh Foirgintí Poiblidhe; chun coinneáil - suas Páirceanna agus Oibreacha Poiblidhe áirithe; chun déanamh agus coinneáil-suas Oibreacha Dréineála; agus chun Deontais-i-gCabhair do Loingseoireacht Acha na Sionainne.

That a Supplementary sum not exceeding £10 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1939, for Expenditure in respect of Public Buildings; for the maintenance of certain Parks and Public Works; for the Execution and Maintenance of Drainage Works; and for a Grant-in-Aid of the River Shannon Navigation.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr. Flinn)

This Vote covers a sum of £45,000 for the purchase of premises in Exchequer Street for a telephone exchange and for broadcasting purposes.

General Mulcahy

We understand it is proposed to purchase certain building for a broadcasting service and a telephone exchange, and it appears that we are not going to get any details as to what amount of money is going to be spent, or as to the necessity for this expenditure.

Mr. Flinn

The total purchase price of the premises is £45,000. Of that amount, £24,500 is charged against public works and building and it will be used to provide a broadcasting station. The balance of £20,500 is chargeable against the telephone capital account. The portion of the premises not used for broadcasting purposes will be converted into a new telephone exchange. There is a dual purpose.

General Mulcahy

What is the necessity for the extension of premises for broadcasting purposes? We should like to know whether the present broadcasting premises are to be vacated, and what exactly is going to be done.

Mr. Flinn

The Department of Posts and Telegraphs consider that the accommodation for broadcasting purposes in the General Post Office is inadequate. As a result of increases of staff, more office space is required, and in consequence of the development of programmes, larger studios, rehearsal rooms, etc., are needed. Moreover, the accommodation now occupied by the broadcasting service in the General Post Office properly belongs to the accountants' branch of the Department, and as there are pressing demands for space in that branch, the broadcasting service will have to be removed therefrom. Advantage has been taken of the opportunity to acquire suitable premises in Exchequer Street, portion of which will house the broadcasting service, and for that purpose the Supplementary Estimate is being introduced. The amount of £7,260 originally voted in 1938-39 for the purchase of sites and buildings will be fully expended before 31st March, 1939, but there will be sufficient savings on sub-head B—New Works, Alterations and Additions—to meet the portion of the purchase price in respect of the broadcasting service. Is there any other information I can give the Deputy?

General Mulcahy

What is the proposed telephone exchange intended to replace, or is it intended to replace anything?

Mr. Flinn

That I cannot tell you. It is part of the ordinary programme of requisition of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

General Mulcahy

Do I understand that we are voting this £20,500 now?

Mr. Flinn

Yes.

General Mulcahy

We are now asked to give sanction for £20,500 for this purpose and we cannot get any explanation with regard to it.

Mr. Flinn

It is part of the ordinary requisition of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. Perhaps the Deputy might raise the matter on the Vote for the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

General Mulcahy

I do not know if it is possible to make the Parliamentary Secretary or any Minister speak on this particular subject, but I think when the House is asked to pass £20,500 for a proposed new telephone exchange, we ought to get some information about that telephone exchange. We ought to get some information as to what is wrong, if anything is wrong, with the present one, and whether it is intended to retain the present one in whole or in part and why on earth the people are being asked to pay £20,500 in connection with this matter.

Mr. MacEntee

I assume that if the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs were here he would respond and say that there has been a natural increase, and a very pronounced increase—

General Mulcahy

If the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for putting this Estimate in front of us, is only in a position to make an assumption as to what the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs would say, and that the extent of his assumption is so meagre, could this Estimate be left until the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is here to tell the House what is the necessity for this expenditure?

Mr. MacEntee

We shall arrange for the attendance of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

Further consideration of the Vote postponed.