asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of the E.S.B. the amount of capital provided in the years 1955-56 and 1956-57 for power stations and rural electrification, respectively, and in respect of each the reduction in capital expenditure envisaged (i) for the remainder of the current financial year, and (ii) for future development in 1957-58; further, if he will state categorically if, at a certain stage of development, rural electrification is to be reduced, and by what percentage of the programme as originally provided for in the current financial year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - E.S.B. Capital.
Capital expenditure by the E.S.B. in the year 1955-56 totalled £5.75 million for power stations and £3.93 million for rural electrification.
It is estimated that capital expenditure under these headings in 1956-57 will amount to £4.38 million and £3.45 million respectively.
It is not possible at this stage to give any indication of the amount of capital expenditure likely to be incurred under these headings in 1957-58.
With regard to the last part of the question I would refer the Deputy to the replies which I gave yesterday to questions on this subject.