asked the Minister for Transport and Power what areas in County Mayo are to be connected to the ESB.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
2.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that in all there are 52 rural areas in County Mayo all of which have been initially developed under the rural electrification scheme. Under the revised post-development scheme, the following 15 areas have been re-canvassed: Bally-castle, Moygownagh, Lahardane, Ardagh, Attymass, Knockmore, Murrisk, Askillaun, Knock, Headfort, Dunmore, Bohola, Kilmeena, Belcarra and Hollymount; construction work has been completed in 11 of these and is in progress in the remaining four. It is expected that the revised post-development scheme will be completed in about three years' time and that supply will have been extended to all applicants who have accepted terms in County Mayo and in the remainder of the country.
Could the Minister not give special consideration to counties like Mayo from which people are emigrating at a very rapid rate, so as to encourage them to stay on the land?
The ESB are proceeding steadily to develop 11 out of 15 schemes at the moment.
Many people have been waiting for many years past.
The plan is to make progress steadily over a period of years. The cost is less if the work is done in an orderly fashion.
3.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that at present the supply of electric current by the ESB to the Skibbereen-Mizen Head district, County Cork is most ineffective; what plans the Board have for improving the supply; and when such plans will be put into effect.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that during the past winter a blizzard and a very severe lightning storm caused considerable damage to the board's networks in the Skibbereen-Mizen Head area with subsequent interruptions of supply. This damage was repaired as expeditiously as possible.
The board state that, in general, the supply position is adequate in the area but that strengthening of the network, where necessary, in certain locations is in hand and further improvements are scheduled in the coming months; that the board's district manager at Cork will investigate any case of poor supply if the necessary details are reported to him.
Will the Minister not agree that the network in that area requires strengthening? This is not an individual complaint: it is general in the area. The current is ineffective. The power should be strengthened. I should like the Minister to ensure that a more effective supply will be made available in a district where the present supply is anything but effective. It is a general complaint.
4.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will state, further to a previous reply on the matter, when it is expected that electricity supply will be extended to the townlands of Sillertane, Pookeen, Inch, and Milane, County Cork.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that they expect that the present rural post-development scheme should be completed within about three years and that all applicants in County Cork and elsewhere who have accepted the terms quoted will have received supply by that date. It was intended that re-canvass of the Coolkellure rural area, which includes the townlands referred to in the Deputy's question, should commence early in 1967. However, I am now informed by the ESB that because of the big increase in demand for electricity in the last year it is necessary to give priority to ensuring the maintenance of supply to existing consumers. New connections may, therefore, be somewhat delayed. In the circumstances, it will not be possible to commence the re-canvass of the Coolkellure rural area at the time originally scheduled.
Will the Minister not agree that he informed me 12 months ago that the likelihood was that the supply would be provided to these townlands during the current year if all the householders availed of it? I understand the Minister to tell me now that they are being put back two years instead of being brought ahead, as one would hope, a few months. Surely that is not a satisfactory position? Surely it is a position which must be adverted to during the debate on the Estimate for the Department of Transport and Power?