asked the Minister for Transport and Power if in view of the many inquiries now being made by applicants for ESB supply he will say if the ESB staff will be able to deal with such inquiries in a shorter period than three years, which is usually the period mentioned in reply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
39.
I am informed by the ESB that it is their policy to allocate the resources available for connecting new consumers under the rural electrification post-development scheme on the basis of an orderly programme, planned and executed on a rational basis. Only in this way can the overall cost, and the cost of individual connections, be kept within reasonable limits. This necessarily involves a waiting period, varying with location of applicants, until their areas are reached under the programme. The board cannot hold out hope that waiting periods will be shortened.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.