asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, having regard to the number of fatal and other serious accidents caused by faulty electrical fittings and equipment, he will have steps taken to warn the public of the dangers of using unsafe electrical installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Faulty Electrical Equipment.
12.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that, despite the substantial increase in the number of electricity consumers and in the number of appliances per consumer, statistics show that from 1951 to 1966 there has been no increase in the number of fatal electrical accidents. In proportion to the number of consumers, the fatal accident rate in this country compares more than favourably with that in Great Britain. While reliable statistics of non-fatal electrical accidents are not available there is no evidence that the position differs from that for fatal accidents. With regard to electrical accidents of the type referred to by the Deputy the position is that they are almost all caused either by extensions to the original installations, of which the Electricity Supply Board have not been notified and which have not been inspected or passed by them, or by appliances, the condition of which has been allowed to deteriorate.
The Board and their staff are fully aware of the need for constant vigilance in the matter of safety and a Safety Committee investigates the circumstances of all accidents which are brought to their attention. Safety leaflets are issued and posted to consumers at intervals. Such leaflets were issued during 1966.
I am also informed that the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, at the request of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, are considering the preparation of safety standards for domestic electrical appliances including electrical plugs and sockets. If an order is made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce under the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961, prescribing minimum safety standards for electrical appliances, it will be an offence to manufacture, assemble or sell goods of that class unless they comply with the prescribed standards.
Safety measures in relation to the use of electrical equipment in industry come within the purview of the Factory Inspectorate of the Department of Labour.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that recently in a case which affected a large Dublin suburban area and in which a number of complaints were made concerning the installation of defective electrical apparatus, the ESB, a semi-State body, disclaimed all responsibility for the condition of electrical installations and indicated that their responsibility stopped at the fuse box? Does he consider that good enough? Does he not think there should be placed upon the ESB, if there is not, as the ESB claim there is not at the moment, a legal obligation to see that electrical installations are satisfactory throughout a house? Does he not think that steps should be taken by the Government to place that obligation upon the ESB?
I am not aware of all the things the Deputy has said, but I would point out that An Foras Forbartha are at present looking into this matter of installations generally, and it is expected that they will make a recommendation shortly in connection with installations of this nature which will have the effect of covering what the Deputy has raised.
I regret I cannot accept that the inquiry will have that inevitable result, because it seems to me that it will deal with the question of standardisation of fittings, which is a different matter. May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to consider the point I put to him and, if there is not already an obligation on the ESB——
That is a suggestion, not a question.
——have steps taken for the safety of the consumer?
Question No. 13.
Is it not a fact that the ESB have exercised such authority and responsibility in numerous cases in the past when they have refused to connect a house the rewiring of which they considered badly done? Why has that responsibility been dropped, as it has been dropped in housing schemes in Dublin city and county?
I do not accept that responsibility has been dropped. The ESB examine installations before they instal and they must be satisfied that the installations are up to scratch.
That is not so.
That is not correct, at least as far as Dublin housing schemes are concerned.
The Parliamentary Secretary should have another look at it because he is misinformed in that regard.