asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if any decision has yet been made as to the appropriate rate of subsidy required by the Electricity Supply Board to enable supply to be given under the rural electrification scheme on the basis of the report on rural electrification, to 69 per cent. of the dwellings in rural areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I have nothing to add to the reply given to the Deputy on this subject on the 6th December, 1950.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the mileage of 10,000-volt and low tension lines and the number of transformers erected (1) to date and (2) in 1950, under the rural electrification scheme and the average number of workers employed on the scheme during 1950.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the mileage of 10,000-volt and low tension lines erected to the end of March, 1951, was 6,805, of which 2,260 miles were erected in 1950. The number of transformers erected to the end of March, 1951, was approximately 6,812, of which number approximately 2,400 were erected during the year 1950. The average number of workers employed on the scheme in 1950 was 1,029.
As the figures just quoted by the Minister indicate that it will take approximately 25 years to complete the rural electrification scheme instead of the ten originally contemplated, can he hold out any prospect of expediting work on the scheme?
I have not worked out the calculation, but I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to expedite it.