I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £4,200 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1964, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Minister for Education (including Institutions of Science and Art), for certain Miscellaneous Educational and Cultural Services, and Sundry Grants-in-Aid.
The Supplementary Estimate is required to enable additional grants to be made to (a) Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, (b) Cumann Drámaíochta na Scol and (c) The Royal Irish Academy of Music.
The additional amount of £1,200 for Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is necessary to enable it to meet its commitments for certain increases in salaries and in general administrative expenses and some extension in its aid to voluntary bodies engaged in the promotion of activities in connection with the language, lectures, courses, etc.
The original provision in this year's Estimate for payment of a grant-in-aid to Cumann Drámaíochta na Scol was £2,000 as compared with £1,450 in 1962/63. There has, however, been a considerable expansion in the activities of An Cumann Drámaíochta in relation to the holding of local and provincial festivals and costs have risen accordingly. I am satisfied that dramatic productions in Irish can contribute significantly to the promotion of the language and generally towards a fostering of a child's self-reliance and the development of his personality. The additional sum now being provided by way of this Supplementary Estimate for Cumann Drámaíochta na Scol is £1,000.
The Supplementary Estimate also provides for an additional amount of £2,000 by way of grant to be made in the present financial year in aid of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the original provision for which was £7,000. The authorities of the College had an interview with me during the year during which they stressed the need for an increased grant, mainly to meet increased costs consequent on an improvement in the rates of salary paid to members of the teaching staff. This improvement was generally in line with that allowed to various groups of public employees in connection with the general eighth round increase in salaries from 1st November, 1961. I am satisfied that in all the circumstances an increase of £2,000 on the original grant of £7,000 for 1963/64 is warranted.
