I will endeavour to conclude. I was making a number of observations about the deficiencies in the Estimate before us and I wish to refer particularly to the provision which it appears is about to be made in relation to Garda stations. I noted with some dismay that the estimate of total cost of the Garda stations and renovations to Garda stations which it is proposed to incorporate into this Estimate apparently is not yet available. I want to reiterate a special plea to try to ensure that standards in these Garda stations all over the country will be such as will not force gardaí to walk out of stations, as they have done previously. I would like the Minister to be good enough to tell us whether resources additional to what was spent last year will be provided in this respect. Any casual observer or any visitor to a Garda station often is quite appalled at the deficiencies there.
The conditions in relation to the Department of Defence buildings, particularly those in which servicemen and their families are housed, are abominable. Without labouring the point, I ask the Minister to make a pledge to this House that whatever resources are necessary under items 133, 134, 135, 133. A. 134A, 135A or other headings appropriate will be allocated so that these men, who, along with the Garda, prison officers and certain other categories of people, serve the State in a particular way and whom we seem to penalise for so doing, will be given decent conditions under which to rear their families. If the Minister had an opportunity to see or have reported to him the television programme last night or the previous night — which I did not see — in relation to such conditions he will know what I am talking about. They are abominable and inadequate and should be improved.
I want to mention, without apology to anybody, the disgraceful condition of this House. Even as I stand here I can feel the perspiration on my brow. The staff and Deputies in this House work in conditions that no self-respecting trade unionist would tolerate. I am aware that shortly they may be asked — perhaps should be asked, in the light of recent events to shoulder extra responsibilities in relation to heightened security in this establishment. If that is the case I trust that they will be consulted fully in advance and recompensed fully for any additional burden that will fall on them.
I ask the Minister when it is proposed to introduce whatever changes are necessary to ensure that the Deputies and staff in this House act in accordance with the planning laws prevailing at present. The numbers in each room and the conditions of the rooms are in breach of building by-laws and of planning laws. They are overcrowded and, as far as I am concerned, not acceptable. There is no point in anybody inside or outside this House pretending that we can do our jobs properly in present conditions which were never designed for the purpose for which they are now utilised. The manner in which we have traditionally accepted substandards in this establishment is another symptom of the lack of respect which this House has always shown for itself. It is about time that we brought Dáil Éireann into the twentieth century and gave it at least the facilities which any very modest business person in this country would have in terms of secretarial and other staff, technological aids, decent office accommodation and the possibility of having confidential discussions with people. The result of that approach would be of benefit to the whole country. It would mean a better, more efficient, more constructive and more productive Dáil, but that is not in this Estimate.
I want to say in passing, in fairness, that some genuine efforts have been made in recent times by the Government to come some of the way, particularly in relation to facilities, and with representatives of the three main parties working together on it there has been progress. I make a special appeal that the rooms in this building, which arguably in some cases might be fire hazards and in which too many people are working, would be replaced by new facilities to ensure that the people of this country get the best value for money rather than an overcrowded, inefficient Dáil, which I shudder to think of. I would like the Minister to tell me, if he has an answer, where the new Deputies, soon to be elected presumably, are going to find themselves housed. At present we are breaking the planning law, and that is an incredible indictment of the way we run our own affairs. It is a reasonable question because if we cannot manage basic facilities such as office accommodation and central heating in this House, what chance have we of managing the country?
In relation to office accommodation for staff generally, and specifically at this time in the Department of Health and Social Welfare, I ask of the Minister whether a heightened state of tension exists at present in these offices, if there is great discontent among the staff, particularly in the Department of Social Welfare, with their accommodation and if there is a threatened strike. If the mayhem existing at present in relation to the payment of social welfare benefits, with all its downstream difficulties of people unable to pay rent, unable to buy food, having to go to loan sharks and so on, is to be compounded by a strike over bad conditions, then the Departments of Health and Social Welfare would not be merely in a state of total chaos but severe damage would be done to the wellbeing of very many people. If what I have suggested is true I want the Minister to give a guarantee that it will be attended to without delay in order to ensure that there will be no tension, disenchantment or withdrawal of labour, due to bad office facilities in that Department.
I notice also under that general heading the new growth industry of employment exchanges and what is presumably increased accommodation in the Dublin area. Neither estimated expenditure for December 1980 nor estimated total cost of whatever is on hands is available in the Estimate. I want to ask the Minister if he will personally visit the employment exchanges in north Dublin city. It will take an hour or two. I want him to do it without forewarning, not as a guided tour. I want him to observe the degrading conditions in which both staff and those attending are obliged to operate.