Vol. 205 No. 13
asked the Minister for Defence on what date it is estimated that the work of installing a new electrical supply line to, and internal wiring in, married quarters at Portobello Barracks, Dublin, will be completed; the date upon which it was decided to do the work; the date upon which it commenced; the number of homes involved; and why it has taken so long to do the job.
57.
asked the Minister for Defence the date upon which it was decided that a new cable was necessary to provide a new electricity supply line to married quarters in Portobello Barracks, Dublin; when steps were taken to purchase the cable; and when it is expected that the new cable will be delivered.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
Following a detailed investigation it was decided on 17 Deireadh Fómhair, 1963, that the existing electricity supply line to the soldiers' married quarters at Dún Cathal Brugha, of which there are 100 in all, should be replaced. Tenders for the supply of the necessary cable and fittings were invited on 22 Deireadh Fómhair. These were received on 6 Samhain 1963, and, following examination thereof, contracts for the supply of the various items were placed on 19 Samhain, 1963. Delivery of the bulk of the cable and fittings is expected in about a week from now. It is expected that the work will be completed in about four weeks from the date of delivery of the materials.
It is not proposed to install new electric wiring in the soldiers' married quarters in question. As I informed the Deputy in reply to a question on the 12th of this month, the existing internal wiring in those quarters is being checked and repaired where necessary. This work and the laying of the new supply line to the soldiers' married quarters represent only a small part of the work involved in the scheme, mentioned in my reply to the Deputy's questions on 21 Feabhra, 1963, for the separate metering of all soldiers' married quarters throughout the country. The largest portion of the work involved in this scheme is the segregation of the wiring as between the individual quarters and connection with the meters which have been installed. In Dún Cathal Brugha the work of checking and repairing the wiring is nearing conclusion but the full implementation of the scheme as a whole must await the completion of the other work involved.
There has been no avoidable delay in dealing with this matter but, as mentioned in my reply to the Deputy's questions on 21 Feabhra, 1963, difficulties have been experienced in getting electricians through the employment exchange and it has been necessary to make special arrangements to have the work in Dún Cathal Brugha completed by Army electricians from military posts outside Dublin. I cannot say at this stage when the entire work will be completed. It is anticipated, however, that the installation of the new cable will result in an immediate improvement in the supply of electricity to the quarters in question.
