asked the Minister for Transport and Power the present position regarding the instal'ation of electricity for the people of Keel, Brida, Lickeen, Dreenagh and Glencar in Killorglin, County Kerry, to whom the present charges are prohibitive, being in one case £7 18s 2d as compared with a figure of £1 3s quoted when a survey was made seven years ago.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Kerry Electricity Supply.
38.
I am informed by the ESB that the townlands of Keel, Brida, Lickeen, Dreenagh and Glencar are in the Board's Killorglin rural area. The area was recanvassed recently but, due to the very heavy expenditure which would be involved in supplying these locations, the lowest terms which could be quoted were not acceptable to the applicants for supply.
Special service charges are related directly to the cost of making supply available. The townlands mentioned are in very isolated locations and several miles of high tension line across difficult country would be required to supply them.
The ESB have been unable to check the comparison of charges referred to by the Deputy but if he furnishes full particulars I will have the matter investigated.
I have already stated in the House in reply to a question on 29th November, 1967, that I recognise that, despite the present generous State subsidy, some special service charges are extremely high. The whole position of these charges is under examination to see whether any relief is possible. I am not yet in a position to say what the outcome of the examination will be but I hope to make a statement in the matter reasonably soon.
It is clear from the Parliamentary Secretary's statement that the townlands in question are isolated townlands and consequently the heavy charges are due to the special service charge the ESB impose on such districts. Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider wiping out that special service charge in its entirety in so far as it relates to the townlands stated in Deputy Connor's question and all other such townlands? Is it not about time that this House wiped out that special service charge which militates against isolated districts such as the districts set down in Deputy Connor's question, and gave them electricity at the same standard charge as areas contiguous to built-up districts?
It is a straightforward question of subsidisation. It boils down to the question of how much the Oireachtas can provide towards the wiping out of the special service charges. At the moment, subject to a £75 maximum per house, the subsidisation is at the rate of 75 per cent for new connections. As I have stated, this matter is at present again under examination with a view to seeing if anything more can be done to help and I hope to be in a position to make a further statement in the matter soon.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the ESB were set up in the 1920s——
I would ask the Deputy not to discuss the administration of the ESB.
It arises out of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply.
It relates to certain townlands in Deputy Connor's question.
Is it not clear that the ESB were established in the 1920s to provide for the townlands set down in Deputy Connor's question at the same rate as for other districts in the country? In other words, will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that it is set up to provide electricity on a national basis and that it is unconstitutional, as I have maintained in this House time and again, to have the special service charges imposed on the inhabitants of remote districts such as South Kerry, West Cork and other areas?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Deputy S. Lemass made a similar promise many years ago, and when are we going to have the legislation to wipe out these charges?
Does the Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that this is a tourist area of a very a special kind with forest, lake, fishing, shooting— the lot? We have many similar areas in Mayo. I think a very strong case can be made for areas such as this.
It is because of the Government's concern for those areas that we are at present examining the possibility of assisting still further financially the spread of rural electrification to these areas.
You have been concerned about it for a long number of years now.