asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that under the E.S.B.'s new scale of charges, it is proposed to fix a bimonthly charge of 11/- for a five-roomed house in Cork as against a charge of 8/- for a similar house in the Dublin area; and, if so, if he will take steps to ensure that such discriminations against Cork will not be brought into operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - E.S.B. Charges—Cork and Dublin.
Mr. Lynch
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question by another Deputy on the 25th February, 1954, in which I explained that, under statute, responsibility for fixing charges for electricity rests on the E.S.B.
Does the Minister have to sanction the new scale for Cork City, or has he any function whatsoever in the matter?
Mr. Lynch
The Minister has no function in sanctioning the scale. The Deputy might be pleased to learn that the expected effect of the introduction of the new scale will be an over-all reduction in the cost of electricity to the citizens of Cork.
As one who has been in communication with the E.S.B. in this connection, might I ask what redress the citizens of Cork have when there is no satisfactory reply from the board in regard to this matter of charging 11/- for a five-roomed house there as against 8/- in Dublin? What redress have the people if those in office who are responsible to the people do not investigate such matters?
The Parliamentary Secretary said there would be an over-all reduction in the price of electricity in Cork. As I understand the situation as regards five-roomed houses in Cork, there was a meter rent of 1/6 for every period of two months. From now on there will be a meter rent of 11/- for every period of two months and the difference in the fixed charge will be £2 17s. in favour of the E.S.B. I do not regard that as satisfactory.