asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the urgent need for an electricity supply at Fuhir, Castletownbere, County Cork, particularly in view of the fact that a farmhouse guest scheme for tourists is to be set up in the area; and if he will take steps to ensure that a supply is provided as soon as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cork Electricity Supply.
3.
The Castletownbere rural area in which the townland of Fuhir is situated is one of the largest rural areas in the country. I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that construction work under the post development scheme is going on in the area for some months and it is estimated that it will take two years to supply all the householders who require electricity. The construction crew is at present working in that portion of the area which has already been recanvassed and supply is being extended to the householders who have accepted terms.
The region around Fuhir has not yet been recanvassed and it will be at least 12 months before supply can be extended.
Most townlands in the Castletownbere area are connected with the tourist industry in one way or another and for this reason it is felt that the Board's programme for the area should not be disrupted.
As I have indicated in reply to previous questions, the ESB are prepared, subject to the exigencies of planning requirement, to consider especially premises in which tourist business is carried on.
Would the Minister not agree that on the occasion of a recent visit to Berehaven, he expressed himself very strongly in favour of developing the Berehaven Peninsula as a tourist area, and he assured a large audience there that any help or assistance he could give towards that development would be gladly given? Arising from that statement and in view of the fact that the people in Berehaven are doing everything they possibly can to develop this area as a tourist area, will the Minister not change his view as expressed in the reply to this question, that Fuhir must wait for two years before ESB service is provided? Surely he will agree that the ESB service is the first essential for the development of an area such as Berehaven for tourist purposes? The Minister stated that no part of the country had greater potential than Berehaven for tourist development.
I was speaking of the whole of the area, the Beara Peninsula, as being an area for tourist promotion. I will ask the ESB to see if this particular area deserves some priority treatment in relation to the claims of the whole area.
The Minister will appreciate that the people in this area are endeavouring to develop the farmhouse holiday scheme in which the Minister is so interested. In view of the expressed interest of the Minister in this district and his recent visit there, I would ask him to get the ESB to interest themselves in this area. The people down there require his co-operation.