The Supplementary Estimate is required to meet additional expenditure arising on two existing subheads in the Vote—for salaries and repatriation of Irish nationals who find themselves in distressed circumstances abroad. The Supplementary Estimate is also necessary to provide for two new subheads to finance the expenses on the cross-border study of communications and also to pay compensation in respect of death, personal injuries and loss of property arising out of the landmine explosion at Sandyford, County Dublin, in July, 1976, which resulted in the deaths of the British ambassador and the personal secretary to the Permanent Under-Secretary of the Northern Ireland office. Because of savings which can be effected under other subheads of the Vote in 1976 and of an increase in the anticipated receipts under appropriations-in-aid the Supplementary Estimate will not involve the allocation of any additional grant to the Vote for Foreign Affairs for 1976 other than a token sum of £10.
The increase required for the salaries and allowances subhead arises because of devaluation of the £. Much of this subhead is required to pay the salaries and allowances of officers serving abroad and the decline in value of the £ during 1976 has resulted in an unavoidable extra cost.
On the basis of expenditure incurred on repatriation of distressed Irish citizens abroad it is anticipated that the total charge to the subhead will reach £29,000 in 1976. Approximately 80 per cent of sums advanced for this purpose is recouped in the same financial year so that a proportionate increase is reflected in appropriations-in-aid. As travel to other countries increases it must be expected that the number of persons applying to our missions abroad for assistance will continue to increase.
The supplementary provision of £10,000 required for the cross-border study of communications is in respect of consultancy fees due this year for the joint study of cross-border communications in the Derry and Donegal area.
The Irish and British Governments made a joint approach to the European Commission in November, 1975, to secure a financial contribution by the Community to this study whose terms of reference are "to examine communications, including transportation —for example, roads, railways, ports, airports, telecommunications—in the Derry and Donegal area in the light of existing projects and plans in order to determine their adequacy and to make recommendations for future development, having regard to financial constraints".
In May, 1976, after consultation between the Governments concerned and the EEC Commission two firms of consultants—one Irish and one British —were commissioned to carry out the study. The consultants, who work under the guidance of a steering group comprising officials of the two Governments and of the EEC Commission, began work in September, 1976. The study will last about six months and will cost about £70,000. Fifty per cent of the cost will be borne by Community funds; the remaining 50 per cent will be shared equally between the two Governments.
The north-west region suffers a twofold disadvantage—its remoteness on the periphery of north-west Europe and a political border which has tended to disrupt certain economic relationships between the city of Derry and its natural hinterland in Donegal. The need for co-operation in overcoming these disadvantages is apparent, particularly in sectors such as communications and transport. The Minister feels that it is appropriate that the European Commission should be associated with this project, which he hopes will make an important contribution to coherent planning for the region as a whole and to the best possible utilisation of the resources of the area.
The amount of £65,000 required for compensation arises from the landmine explosion at Sandyford, County Dublin, in July, 1976, in which, as I have just said, two persons were killed. In addition, three persons were injured or severely shocked in the explosion. The compensation is intended to cover payments to all five families. The British Government must also be compensated for loss of property in accordance with normal international practice.