asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the ESB have yet decided to give a connection to the house of a person (name supplied) in County Meath at a reasonable cost.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Electricity Supply.
4.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that, because of the requirements of the Department of Defence with regard to overhead lines in the vicinity of aerodromes, electricity supply can only be extended in this case by means of an underground cable necessitating the payment of high special service charges. The Board state that if it were possible to extend supply by means of an overhead line from their nearest supply point the applicant could be supplied on the basis of a very small special service charge. Under existing circumstances, however, the Board say that they can make no reduction in the terms quoted.
I am having this case further considered in conjunction with the ESB and the Department of Defence to see whether any other arrangements can be made to help reduce the cost of connection and I will then communicate the result to the Deputy.
I thank the Minister for his reply, but, if the Ceann Comhairle does not mind moving from an army camp in the Middle East to one in my own constituency, I want to ask the Minister would he not agree that it seems completely ridiculous that a cottage erected less than ten years ago outside this camp gate cannot have an electricity supply brought to it except at a service charge of £12 per two months? Originally it was £4 but the Minister did some little manipulation which brought it up to £12. All the other houses surrounding the camp, even those in direct line with the runways, have been connected. Does the Minister not agree that it looks very peculiar that this man, not well known for his support of the present Government, is the one person left out when the question of electricity supply arises? The Minister for Defence knows as much about this as I do.
Be fair about it.
Politics had absolutely nothing to do with the decision whatever. The majority of the applicants in the vicinity of the aerodrome have been supplied because of special arrangements made. I am taking up very urgently this question with the ESB and I am also asking the Minister for Defence to consider it because of the anomaly that has been created. As stated by the Deputy, this is the one person who appears to be in this position. Therefore, anything that can be done to solve the problem will be done. I can assure the Deputy of that.
Is the Minister aware that three times a year in the past four years this matter has been raised by me in this House and on each occasion the Minister for Transport and Power passed it on to the Minister for Defence, who passed it back again, while all the other people, who were in a much worse position than this applicant was vis-à-vis the runways got a supply? Would he not agree it is ridiculous to say that the Minister for Defence, who represents the same constitutency, has now to be consulted to find out if this man can get a supply at a reasonable charge? He has a schoolgoing family who will be nearly grown up while waiting for the connection. It is a damned shame.