Communications and transit > Enquiry on national public works

administrative buildings and £260,000 on national school buildings, of which latter
figure £60,000 will be contributed from local sources.
The major portion of the expenditures mentioned above was incurred on works
undertaken by contract under Government supervision. It is estimated that the
proportion of labour costs in these building schemes amounts to about 55 % the total
cost.
(j) Electric Storage Battery Deveeopment.
I.
A company was formed under Government auspices to develop and exploit an
improved electric storage battery, the invention of Dr. James Drumm. Its application
to railway locomotion was first proceeded with, and an arrangement was made with the
Great Southern Railways Company under which some passenger vehicles were adapted
and equipped and put into operation for suburban traffic. Attention has also been
devoted to road locomotion and other uses of the battery.
II.
The entire development and exploitation is carried on by the company.
III.
Working capital amounting to £71,913 was furnished by the Government from
moneys provided by “ Dail Eireann Of this amount, about £16,000 was furnished since
March 1934.
y * IV.
Information is not available at present on which an allocation of the company’s
expenditure as between labour and other costs might be made, but it may be taken that
the direct labour content of expenditure up to the present was low.
V.
The company’s operations have already been responsible for appreciable activity in
the opening-up of employment new to the Irish Free State, and it is anticipated that the
future advantages to be derived therefrom, and from the promotion of the use of electrical
energy produced within the State, will be substantial.
(m) Other Works.
I.
Mines and Minerals.
The following is a summary of the mineral exploration and development assisted
since the beginning of the year 1929 and completed before March 31st, 1934.
Number of cases
Mineral Classification (m) Classification (a)
Clay
Coal
Glass sand ...
Limestone ....
Marble
Phosphate ....
Roads of access
Sandstone ....
Silica
Slate
2
1
1
6
1
1
3 districts
1
2
7