asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the materials required for the rural electrification scheme which the Electricity Supply Board found difficulty in securing in sufficient quantities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Materials for Rural Electrification.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the materials required for the rural electrification scheme which the board find it difficult to secure are transformers, insulators, galvanised steel wire and ironwork, certain sizes of wood poles, and paper-braided jute conductor.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state if he is satisfied that the board has made adequate efforts to get transformers, wire and so forth manufactured in this country?
I think they have even exceeded any responsibility they might have in that regard in an effort to secure that such supplies will be manufactured here; and they have facilitated anyone who is prepared to do the work to the maximum extent possible.
Is it not a fact that the factory that was established for that purpose was left idle for want of orders?
The fact is that the factory that was established could not put up anything like comparable figures with quotations for imported commodities. The board went to the extent of giving them a 10 per cent. or even a higher preference, but the factory still was not able to meet some of the requirements. In certain cases the board placed orders with them but in other cases it was obliged to go elsewhere.