I move:—
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £707,141 be granted to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending 31st March, 1946, for the Army and the Army Reserve (including certain Grants-in-Aid) under the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Acts, and for certain administrative Expenses in connection therewith; for the Expenses of the Office of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures; for Expenses in connection with the trial and detention of certain persons (No. 28 of 1939, No. 1 of 1940 and No. 16 of 1940, etc.); for certain Expenses under the Offences Against the State Acts, 1939 and 1940 (No. 13 of 1939 and No. 2 of 1940), and the Air-Raid Precautions Act, 1939 (No. 21 of 1939); for Reserve Medical Supplies for Civilian Hospitals; for certain Expenses of the Local Defence Force (including Grants-in-Aid) (No. 28 of 1939); for Expenses in connection with the issue of Medals commemorating the 1916 Rising, etc.; for certain Expenses in connection with Blood Transfusion; for a Grant to the Irish Red Cross Society; for Expenses in connection with the Production of certain Chemicals for Sale; and for a Grant-in-Aid of the provision of premises for a Soldiers' Club.
When the original annual Estimate for the Army Vote, 1945-46, was being compiled, hostilities in Europe had not ceased, and consequently the Estimate was presented in its emergency form whereby all expenditure and receipts were grouped under two broad sub-heads without any details whatsoever. That gross Estimate in that form was for £8,411,942.
The annual Estimate was not taken until the end of June and by that time hostilities had ceased, and consequently the necessity for suppressing detailed information no longer existed. Accordingly, it was then decided to present the Estimate in its old form by sub-heads and with details, subject to the overriding consideration that the total amount of the gross Estimate for £8,411,942 should not be exceeded. Within that amount, the sum of £1,560,000 provided for gratuities was purely a post-emergency item and the balance, £6,851,942, was distributed among the other services indicated by the sub-heads of the Vote on the best information then available. As pointed out at the time to the Dáil, about 61 per cent. of the Vote's expenditure related directly to the pay and maintenance of the Army, and, therefore, the principal factor was the average strength to be maintained during the year. Starting with the actual strength on 1st April, 1945, and assuming a progressive reduction month by month after June, 1945, until the figure of 12,500 all ranks was reached at the end of March, 1946, the Estimate proceeded on the basis of an average of 22,249 all ranks over the whole of the financial year. That assumption pre-supposed that demobilisation would begin in July, but in fact it did not begin until November, so that now in February, 1946, we find as a fact that average maintained was not 22,249 but 23,616 all ranks. That is the main explanation for the additional sums now required under sub-heads A, B and C.
In sub-head A there is also included a sum of about £175,000 for a special payment in March of all deferred pay accrued due up to and including 27th February, 1946. Deputies will recollect that, nearly four years ago, privates received an increase of sixpence a day in pay, and that in addition both N.C.O.s and men received an additional increase of sixpence a day, the payment of which was deferred. All men who have been discharged from the permanent forces have been, or are being, paid such pay, and soldiers serving on a regular engagement have received all credits due up to 28th September, 1945. The only class, therefore, which has not received any of their deferred credits are men serving on a temporary engagement for the duration of the emergency. It will now be possible owing to changed conditions to pay all men, of whatever category, serving in the Army, all deferred credits due up to and including 27th February, 1946, and after that date to treat the sixpence a day deferred pay as an integral portion of their ordinary pay.
For gratuities under sub-head A (4), we require an extra sum of £260,798, because the number of claims which will, it is estimated, be dealt with during the financial year is greater than originally anticipated.
The explanation I have already given regarding the additional amount required for the pay and maintenance of the Army applies also to the amount needed under sub-head C for the pay of civilians. In June we budgeted for 1,511 civilians under this sub-head, but actually it has been found necessary to employ on an average about 1,800, and that is why we require £47,939 more.
As regards the sub-heads for stores, P, Q and R, our commitments in the annual Estimate are greater than anticipated, and claims materialising in respect of deliveries have also been heavier. Under sub-head R (£59,537), for instance, we relied on the fact that in previous years much of our fuel supplies consisted of Army-won turf, but this year, owing to the reduction in the strength of the Army, we were unable to rely on that source of supply and had to go out to tender for our requirements. Again, as regards sub-head Q (£23,811), we had for some time past under order badly needed engineering equipment, and in the absence of an export licence we could not get delivery. With the cessation of hostilities, however, the licence was granted, and we received delivery of the equipment. In the case of sub-head P (£169,729) we have received delivery of guns and fittings, generator sets and Bren-gun and universal carriers which we were seeking for some time past, and which are required for the equipment and training of the Army even in peace time.
The excess on sub-head T (£29,605) is entirely due to the purchase of sites for military purposes. At Limerick we have purchased a site for a new barracks, and work is proceeding thereon; and at Baldonnel and Fermoy, in view of the development of aircraft, we have found it essential to purchase more land for the extension of runways. Under sub-head U, the excess of £18,307 is mainly due to compensation to owners of private property occupied for military use during the emergency. In sub-head Y (2), Army Reserve, the excess (£10,656) is due to the fact that the revised Estimate presented in June allowed for an average of 1,770 all ranks, but the actual average strength throughout the year was 5,843.
Sub-head Y (4) provides Grants-in-Aid for the newly reorganised Local Defence Force described in the Estimate under its Gaelic title of An Fórsa Cosanta Aitiúil. For financial purposes the old force has now practically ceased, and recruiting to the new force has begun. Here I should point out that, in the annual Estimate, a sum of £83,000 was provided for Grants-in-Aid for the old force, and that the most of that money was payable in January, 1946. Owing, however, to the reorganisation of the force payment was suspended and only about £3,000 was actually paid out. There is a saving, therefore, of £80,000 on the original year's Vote against the £15,000 now asked for.
Under sub-head E E we require £1,000 to defray the cost of pre-Truce medals and ribbons. No provision for any such expenditure was made in the annual Estimate.
Under sub-head V (2) we are asking the Dáil to make a Grant-in-Aid of £10,000 towards acquiring and adapting a new soldiers' club in Dublin. Such a club existed in Dublin up to 1931, but from that year until 1941 there was not any. In 1941, owing to the large number of troops garrisoned in Dublin, and also to the large number visiting the Capital either on duty or on leave, the need of a club which would provide meals, lodging and recreation for the soldiers became apparent, and for a time the position was acute. After vainly seeking accommodation in various quarters, the Hospitals' Trust came to our rescue by letting us at a nominal rent certain premises over the Sweepstake Offices in O'Connell Street, and through the generosity of benefactors, to whom I, on behalf of the Army, offer sincere thanks, we were enabled to equip the club. The need of the club and its success may be gauged from the fact that during 1945 the turn-over of the restaurant was £6,112, and that of the dormitory £1,040. These figures represent about 4,779 meals a month, and accommodation for 50 soldiers nightly.
The premises were required for their original purpose and notice of termination was served for 31st August, 1945. Alternative accommodation was then sought, and the management committee eventually secured premises in Parnell Square at a cost of £8,989. The building is now being adapted and renovated and the cost, including the provision of a new hall, will be about £8,250. The total cost, therefore, will be between £17,000 and £18,000, and we are asking in this Estimate for a Grant-in-Aid of £10,000 or two-thirds of the total cost whichever is the lesser.
I have now dealt with the various sub-heads shown in the Estimate. The total gross additional sum required is, as shown, £1,408,037. From that has to be deducted a sum of £374,765 in respect of excess Appropriations-in-Aid, due mainly to the sale of surplus Army stores. From the special sales we expect to realise about £367,000 and we also anticipate a surplus of about £7,765 from the normal activities of the Department. This reduces the gross total to £1,033,272.
However, from that total there must be deducted a sum of £326,131 representing savings on other sub-heads of the Vote not specified in the printed form. The savings are scattered over some 22 other sub-heads of the Vote, but it may be said in brief that the savings were effected mainly either through the cessation of certain services or the non-purchase of certain stores. For instance, the closing down of the old Local Defence Force has effected a technical saving of about £136,641; the repatriation of internees about £11,037, and the termination of the A.R.P. services £30,974. The cancellation of certain store purchases has brought savings of £105,273 and the adjustment of estimation on other sub-heads £42,206, bringing the total technical savings up to £326,131. Hence, deducting the excess appropriations and the technical savings on the annual Estimate the net sum required is £707,141 which the Dáil is now asked to Vote.
