asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that it is the practice of the E.S.B., when providing rural electrification, to by-pass certain isolated houses and groups of houses on the grounds that it would be uneconomic to connect them with the scheme, and, if so, if he will make representations to the board to discontinue this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I am not aware that it is the practice of the E.S.B. to do as the Deputy states. On the contrary, I am informed by the board that, in all cases in which the provision of supply at the normal rate of fixed charge would be uneconomic, the householders concerned are given the opportunity of obtaining supply if they are willing to pay an extra charge known as a special service charge which will be sufficient to make the provision of supply economic.
The information as supplied in the question is correct. Every member of this House has on occasions made representations to the E.S.B. on behalf of interested applicants for electricity supply and has been told that the distance of the house from the nearest pole would not warrant the extension to the residence.
The E.S.B. are most anxious to supply as much electricity as they can and anybody who is in an out-of-the-way place will be offered this service at an extra charge.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that this special service charge imposes a severe hardship on people with small holdings in remote areas? Would he not agree, further, that it will hold up expansion of the rural electrification programme should these unfortunate smallholders have to pay the extra cost involved?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that, not alone in remote areas, but near towns and villages there are houses, say two or three houses, only half a mile from the centre of supply and the E.S.B. will not serve them unless they pay the extra charge and does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that that is fair?
Section 93 of the Electricity Supply Board Act prohibits the grant of preferential treatment to consumers within the same area of supply.
Having regard to all we hear about rural electrification, would you not imagine that everybody in a country district would get the supply at the same charge as paid by those being supplied? It is most unfair to ask people living in remote places to pay an extra charge. Cottiers and farmers who were to benefit by the electricity are denied the supply because of the extra cost involved.
These are the same regulations that have been in force since the rural electrification scheme came in.
Mr. Lemass
There may be twice as many by-passed now that you have doubled the cost.
They will not. That is what is annoying you.
And they will all vote for it.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when the E.S.B. propose to extend rural electrification to the Ballykillagear, Ballinacillogue, Ballinvalley and Johnstown areas, County Wicklow.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that these townlands are included in the Johnstown area which was officially canvassed towards the end of last year. I am also informed that the area will be considered by the board in the early summer and the decision of the board will depend on how the returns compare with those of other areas awaiting development at the time.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce when rural electrification will be extended to the Beaufort-Kilgobnet, and Milltown-Listry areas, County Kerry.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that on a number of occasions these areas have been considered for development under the rural electrification scheme but their selection has not so far been found possible. The board intend to consider the areas again at the end of this year.