asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the subsidy for rural electrification has been restored; and, if so, why a special service charge, which in most cases amounts to more than the normal two monthly fixed charge, is being imposed on would-be consumers by the Electricity Supply Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Subsidy for Rural Electrification.
27.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1958, a subsidy of 50 per cent. of the expenditure incurred by the Electricity Supply Board on the electrification of rural areas after the 31st March, 1958, is payable to the Board. The subsidy will continue until the total expenditure on the electrification of rural areas amounts to £30 million.
Special service charges are still payable in cases where, after allowance is made for the subsidy, the annual revenue from the normal fixed charges is less than 4 per cent. of the capital cost of providing supply. The amount of the special service charge in any such case is the amount which must be added to the normal fixed charge to produce an annual return of 4 per cent. on the capital cost, excluding subsidy, of providing supply. I am informed by the Board that less than 5 per cent. of all rural consumers are paying special service charges, the amounts in each case varying according to the cost of providing supply.
Is the Minister aware that the Taoiseach, when he was in Opposition, stated in this House that, when he would return to office, he would ensure that steps would be taken to remove this special service charge in view of the hardship imposed on people in rural areas? Would the Minister now honour that undertaking, given when in Opposition, by the Taoiseach?
So far as I am aware, that question was related to the fact that the subsidy for rural electrification had been abolished and has now been restored.
This arose as a result of a motion in this House which was purely on the question of the special service charges imposed on areas outside of the terms of reference of the E.S.B.—areas or pockets which I might suggest were completely uneconomic. Is the Minister aware that the attitude of the Taoiseach, when he was a private Deputy, was that steps would be taken, if Fianna Fáil were returned to power, to remove the hardship imposed on these people who had to bear a special service charge through no fault of their own?
Ba mhaith liom an freagra ginearálta a chloisint arís.
Another of the promises.
We honoured them.
We restored the subsidy.
Ba mhaith liom an freagra a chloisint arís ón Aire.
The Minister has already replied.
Fágaim é mar atá sé.