I. ESTIMATE of the Amount required in the Year ending 31 March 1927 for Expenditure in respect of PUBLIC WORKS and BUILDINGS IN Ireland.

Eighty-three Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Pounds.

II. SUBHEADS under which this Vote will be accounted for by the OFFICE OF WORKS.

Expenditure on these Services is recoverable by deduction from the Northern Ireland share of reserved taxes, except

(1) such sums as the Joint Exchequer Board may certify to have been expended in the provision of buildings (including the sites thereof) and equipment for the purposes of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland (Sec. 24 (1) (b) of Government of Ireland Act, 1920) and subject to any allowance which the Board may make under Paragraph 4 (3) (b) of the First Schedule to the Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1922,

(2) such portion of the expenditure, estimated at 2,2001. and 4501. respectively, relating to Agency Services performed by the Board of Customs and Excise and the Post Office respectively on behalf of the Government of Northern Ireland, which is recovered direct from that Government and credited to Subhead P (Appropriations in Aid) of this Vote.

NORTHERN IRELAND.-IMPERIAL SERVICES.

A.-NEW WORKS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND PURCHASES.

1. Hillsborough: Provision of Residence for Governor of
Northern Ireland. Revised Total Estimate 49,5651.
To complete.

2. Minor Works not exceeding 5001.

3. Urgent Unforeseen Works

B., C., D., E.-MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND OTHER CURRENT CHARGES:

NORTHERN IRELAND.-RESERVED SERVICES.
F.-NEW WORKS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND

PURCHASES:

1. Belfast. Provision of building for Supreme Court and
Public Offices. This sum represents the amount
expected to be expended on building in the year 1926.
The total cost of the building, including both the portion
for the Supreme Court and that for the Northern Ireland
Departments, but excluding 55,000l. for site, is
provisionally estimated at 488,500l. Of this total, part,
estimated at approximately 166,000l., in respect of the
Departmental buildings, will be met by the Northern
Ireland Government out of funds issuable to that Govern-
ment from the Consolidated Fund under section 34(1) of the
Government of Ireland Act, 1920, and a further part,
estimated at approximately 53,5007., will be provided by
the Northern Ireland Government, being the estimated cost
of additional accommodation both in the Supreme Court
building and in the Departmental buildings provided at the
request and cost of that Government. (Revote, 1,000l.) ..
2. Belfast, General Post Office: Erection of Garage, Work-
shops, &c. Total Estimate, Works, 4,5001., Furniture, 1207.
3. Strabane: New Post Office. Total Estimate 7,4001. (Revote)
4. Works costing between 1,000/. and 2,000. ..
5. Minor Works

..

6. Urgent Unforeseen Works

Deduct for works which may not be carried out during the
year owing to unforeseen difficulties and delays

5,000

TOTAL

FOR NEW WORKS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND
PURCHASES

£28,360

10,070

G., H., I., J.-MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND OTHER CURRENT CHARGES.

1926.

1925.

IRISH FREE STATE.-IMPERIAL SERVICES.

K.-NEW WORKS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND
PURCHASES:

Tipperary Training Centre: Extension

Works costing between 500l. and 2,000l.

1. Urgent Unforeseen Works

TOTAL FOR NEW WORKS, ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS AND PURCHASES

L., M., N., O.-MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND OTHER CURRENT CHARGES:

P.-APPROPRIATIONS IN AID:

1. Recoveries in respect of Agency Services for the Government of Northern Ireland, Rents, Old Materials, &c.

2. Repayments by the Ministry of Labour for Services carried out on Repayment Terms. (See Subhead C. FurnitureNorthern Ireland, Imperial Services-and Subhead M. Furniture-Irish Free State, Imperial Services)

TOTAL FOR APPROPRIATIONS IN AID

APPENDIX.

COST OF LIVING BONUS APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY REMUNERATION (ON A PRE-WAR BASIS).

(Note.-Remuneration not carrying bonus is shown in Estimates as inclusive.)

The Civil Service Cost of Living bonus is subject to revision on 1 March and 1 September of each year and is based on the average of the official increased cost of living figures for the six months preceding the date of revision. Accordingly at the time Estimates are presented it is not possible to forecast the precise rate of bonus which will be payable in the latter half of the year.

.

On ordinary remuneration up to 35s. a week (911. 5s. a year) bonus represents a percentage increase equivalent to the average percentage increased cost of living figure so arrived at. As remuneration increases beyond this point the bonus represents a diminishing percentage increase until a remuneration of 2,000l. a year is reached where no bonus is payable; and bonus is not payable at a rate which will raise the total remuneration above 2,000l. a year. The provision for bonus in the Estimates for 1926 is calculated on the basis of an average increased cost of living figure of 75. Tables A and B following show the amount of bonus that would be payable, on this basis, on typical rates of wages and salaries.

Cost of Living Bonus (on the basis of an Average Increased Cost of Living Figure of 75).