asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the E.S.B. is charging a rental at rates for five-room and six-room houses at St. Brendan's Park, Tralee, although these houses were advertised and let by the Tralee Urban District Council as four- and five-room houses; and, if so, whether he will now request the board to reconsider the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - E.S.B. Rental.
Responsibility for fixing charges for electricity rests under statute on the E.S.B. and I have no function in the matter. I am informed, however, that the basis of the assessment of the fixed charges for the houses referred to by the Deputy is identical with that applied throughout the whole country and represents a reduction in nearly all cases on the former fixed charges.
These houses are advertised by the local authority as four-roomed and five-roomed houses. The rentals, as everybody knows, are as high as 34/- to 38/- per week, including rates. Being a member of the urban council, I have myself raised this matter at one of our meetings and I have been assured by the officials that the houses in question are four-roomed and five-roomed houses. The members of the urban council cannot understand how the E.S.B. can make out that these are five-roomed and six-roomed houses. All one has on the ground floor is a living-room and a kitchenette and there is no division whatsoever. The kitchen is certified by the E.S.B. as a kitchenette, though there is no division whatsoever. Such classification is a gross injustice and I appeal to the Parliamentary Secretary to take the matter up again with the E.S.B.
Descriptions of accommodation may alter from place to place and the board adopts a uniform standard description which can be applied universally. In this case there are three bedrooms, a sitting-room, living-room and kitchenette; the kitchenette is apparently taken as one apartment.
There is no division. There is no partition. There is just the bare living-room.