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Dáil

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Advances.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state (a) the extent to which advances to (1) Electricity Supply Board, (2) Local Loans Fund, (3) Bord na Móna, (4) Córas Iompair Éireann and (5) for the redemption of National Loans were financed out of the American Loan Counterpart Fund between the dates 15th June, 1951, and 31st December, 1951, inclusive; (b) the total amounts advanced for these purposes from 1st April, 1951, to 30th June, 1951, and in each of the subsequent months of that financial year; and (c) what Supplementary Estimates were introduced in the period 15th June to 31st December, 1951, and for what amounts.

Comment on this

(a) The following below-the-line issues were made in the period 15th June, 1951, to 31st December, 1951, inclusive:—

Borrowing was incurred not only for these purposes but also to defray expenditure on voted "capital services", to pay off arrears of fuel losses and to cover the deficit on the then current Budget. The net amount borrowed for Exchequer purposes in the period specified was £30.4 million and was obtained as follows:—

(b) The total amount advanced for the five purposes named in the question was £3,304,000 for the period 1st April, 1951, to 30th June, 1951. The amount issued in subsequent months of 1951-52 was as follows:—

(c) The following Supplementary Estimates were introduced in the period 15th June to 31st December, 1951:—

Comment on this

Is the Minister in a position to state what part of the £13,592,030 spent on below-the-line issues has been committed to us by the Coalition Government?

Comment on this

The whole sum of £13,592,030.

Comment on this

Is there any means by which the Minister could be relieved of the monotony of having to answer his own questions?

Comment on this

Did I understand the Deputy to say below-the-line or below-the-belt expenditure?

Comment on this

I would say that very many of the Coalition Government's actions were very much below the belt.

Comment on this
Patrick Hogan An Ceann Comhairle Labour Party

Question No. 11.

Comment on this

Arising further out of the Minister's reply, I would like to know in relation to the Supplementary Estimates introduced in the period 5th June to 31st December, 1951, how much of the moneys provided were in respect of commitments foreseen by the Coalition Government but not provided for at the time by my colleague in Dublin North Central, Deputy McGilligan.

Comment on this

Vote 71, £3,683,000.

Comment on this

That is untrue.

Comment on this

Vote 50, Industry and Commerce, £3,079,995.

Comment on this

That was as a result of the mess you left behind in 1947.

Comment on this

Vote 51——

Comment on this

Tell the truth and we will discuss it.

Comment on this
Patrick Hogan An Ceann Comhairle Labour Party

Order!

Comment on this

Vote 51, Transport and Marine, £2,230,000. I may remind the Deputy that Deputy Dillon asked us what we had done with the £22,000,000. That is what we did with it.

Comment on this
Patrick Hogan An Ceann Comhairle Labour Party

Question No. 11.

Comment on this
Brendan Corish Breanndán Mac Fheórais Labour Party

Do you pay the civil servants with dollars?

Comment on this
Frank Aiken Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Aiken) Fianna Fáil

You spent the dollars.

Comment on this
Brendan Corish Breanndán Mac Fheórais Labour Party

The Minister said that is what he spent the £22,000,000 on.

Comment on this

We have an admission now that he had £22,000,000. We have been trying to get that for a long time.

Comment on this

Arising further out of the Minister's reply——

Comment on this
Patrick Hogan An Ceann Comhairle Labour Party

I have called Question No. 11.

Comment on this

Raise it on the Adjournment and I will explain to Deputy Corish that £22,000,000 is not £22,000,000.

Comment on this