asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when the E.S.B. propose to extend rural electrification to the Cloontia, Doocastle, Rooskey and Carracastle areas of East Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that an official canvass of the householders of the Carracastle area, County Mayo, which includes Cloontia and Rooskey, was completed by the board recently and that the selection of the area for development under the rural electrification scheme will be considered by the board towards the end of this month.
I am also informed that Doocastle is included in the Bunninadden area, in which development work under the scheme has recently been completed.
Seán Mac Eochagáin
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) when the E.S.B. last carried out a canvass in the Spiddal-Carraroe area, and with what result, and (b) when rural electrification is likely to be extended to this thickly populated area.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that their latest canvass of the Spiddal-Carraroe area was carried out during last summer and that the work resulted in an improvement from 23 per cent. to 35 per cent. in the proportion of householders who were willing to take supply. I understand that the area will be considered again by the board but that its prospects of selection for development will depend largely on a further improvement in the percentage of householders willing to take supply.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will give an outline of the E.S.B.'s proposals for the development of rural electrification in the Iveragh peninsula, County Kerry.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that the Glenbeigh area has been considered by the board for development under the rural electrification scheme, but has not so far been selected. It will be reconsidered by the board at regular intervals of about four months. An official canvass of the residents of Templenoe area has been completed and the area will be considered for selection in due course. An official canvass of the Sneem area will commence shortly. The prospects of these areas being selected for development will depend on how their returns compare with those of other areas still awaiting development in the board's Tralee district.
The development of areas in the Cahirciveen region cannot take place until the board's transmission network has been extended to Cahirciveen. This will take place in conjunction with the commissioning of the small turf-fired generating station in that locality. The board has suggested that local committees might be formed in these areas to carry out preliminary canvasses and, if sufficient interest is shown in the scheme, official canvasses will be carried out by the board in due course with a view to having the areas considered for development.