I move:

Go ndeontar suim bhreise na raghaidh thar £9,130 chun íoctha an Mhuirir a thiocfidh chun bheith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1930, chun caiteachais i dtaobh Foirgintí Puiblí; chun coinneáil-suas Páirceanna agus Oibreacha Puiblí áirithe; chun déanamh agus coinneáil-suas Oibreacha Dréineála; agus chun Ildeontaisí i gCabhair.

That a supplementary sum not exceeding £9,130 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1930, for expenditure in respect of Public Buildings; for the maintenance of certain Parks and Public Works; for execution and maintenance of Drainage Works, and Sundry Grants in Aid.

The extra amount required under this Vote is made up first of all under Sub-head B., "New Works, Alterations and Additions," which accounts for £28,000. As the estimate has to be made about fifteen months in advance, the figure of estimated expenditure is only an approximate one. It is subject to many varying factors; for example, consultations have to be held with the various Departments interested, plans have to be prepared, specifications and quantities where necessary made out, the capacity of the contractor and the weather conditions taken into account. All these varying factors account oftentimes for variations in the amount of the estimate. In this particular case these factors were favourable and as a result of that we over-expended the Vote. The second item is made up under sub-head B.B.1. That amount, £1,600, is for the transference of a very interesting archæological monument, St. Molua's Oratory, which would have been completely submerged as a result of the flooding under the Shannon scheme were it not removed. Very strong representations were made to the Government that this work should be undertaken, and accordingly it was done at a cost of £1,600.

The next item, B.B.2, is a result of the adaptation and renovation of the new residence for the Papal Nuncio. Rather heavy expenditure had to be incurred in this case for the laying of electrical cables. A chapel had to be built, furniture had to be procured and generally pretty extensive repairs had to be undertaken in the residence. There is also an item under Sub-head E. for rents. As a result of not leaving a sufficient margin we found that rents amounted to £2,000 more this year than we had anticipated. This additional expense is set off by Appropriations-in-Aid to the extent of £6,670 and also by anticipated savings under other sub-heads amounting to £19,000, leaving a net total of £9,130.

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary under Sub-head B.B. 2, what is our custom when other State representatives come here? Do we put houses in order for them and spend so much money upon them; could he also say if there is rent to be paid? I think I saw something about the rent of a lodge occupied by a foreign minister?

That is not finally decided upon yet. I believe there will be rent of some kind but as I say it is not yet decided. The State has previously expended considerable sums of money in renovating places taken over by other foreign representatives.

I presume I would be in order, A Chinn Comhairle, in raising on this Vote the action of the Board of Works in closing the Phoenix Park for the motor races last year and in giving the Park to the Royal Irish Automobile Club free of charge for that purpose. Would that matter not come in under sub-head E—rents? I agree, the rents are not there, but they should be there.

Sub-head L—Appropriations-in-Aid.

These are rents paid by the Board of Works Of course, the Deputy, under the heading of Appropriations-in-Aid, cannot discuss things that he thinks should be brought in under the heading, "Appropriations-in-Aid." I am afraid this Vote does not provide any opportunity for that discussion.

I have no objection, but on the contrary I am very glad that the Oratory in Killaloe has been saved from being submerged, but I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he is aware that many people are economically submerged, particularly the fishermen in Killaloe, because of the operations of the Shannon Scheme.

Under Sub-head B I assume the reconstruction of the Dublin Four Courts would come in, and I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the stone used in the reconstruction of the Four Courts is Irish stone.

A lot of the stone is Irish stone, but I was told in a great many cases Irish workers are not very much in love with Irish stone as they say it is much more difficult to work.

The Parliamentary Secretary says that Irish workmen are not in love with Irish stone, but is it not a fact that Irish workmen have no voice in the matter and that it depends entirely upon the contractor? The Board of Works should have jurisdiction over the contractor and they should see that Irish stone is used. The Irish stone quarries are lying idle and people are unemployed because the Board of Works will not insist on the use of Irish stone.

We have made use of some Irish stone but it was not satisfactory.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary suggest that it depends on the action of the workers whether a certain type of stone or otherwise should be used?

Not altogether, but their attitude is taken into consideration.

As to Sub-head B.B. I, I think a certain Roman politician ended up all his speeches in the Senate with the expression, delenda est Carthago—Carthage was eventually destroyed. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether any money is spent under this head for the preservation of the object in front of Leinster House.

Not to my knowledge.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us how the original estimate for the reconstruction of the Four Courts compares with the total expenditure up-to-date?

I could not give the Deputy that figure.

I think the Parliamentary Secretary said it was customary to spend a certain amount of money on Legations' residences here. Can he give us one or two instances where money has been spent?

I will give the instance of the American Ambassador.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how much was spent in that case?

I could not without having the facts before me.

On furniture.

On both furniture and repairs.

Is there a rent being received for that house?

Yes, there is a rent.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what the rent is?

No.

Is the furniture of Irish manufacture?

No. Some of it is antique furniture.

I would like to ask if other countries reciprocate where our representatives are concerned?

I could not say that.

Does the Parliamentary Secretary know anything about the Department?

That is not his work.

As the Minister for External Affairs is there perhaps he could answer.

No State gives us this particular benefit. We offered this as a particular and special item out of reverence to the Holy See. Another example was the case of the American Ambassador, the first Minister to come here. Certain small things were done for him. There has been more done, however, for the Papal Nuncio than for anyone else and we ask for no reciprocity in that matter.

I would like the Minister to know that I only wished for information.

I understood the Deputy.