asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that many householders in Counties Galway and Roscommon are unable to instal electricity owing to the prohibitive cost; if he will consider making the necessary arrangements with the ESB so that all applicants in rural areas will get light at the same cost as those who accepted the ESB terms originally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
21.
I am informed by the ESB that the terms for connection to the electricity supply in rural areas are related to the actual cost of making supply available. Because of the rise in the costs over the years, it is not possible now to offer terms which applied during the original rural electrification scheme. As I explained in reply to a question by the Deputy on 29th April, 1970, the Government reviewed special service charges in mid-1968 and arranged for substantial reductions in the higher charges. These reductions, which amounted to 50 per cent and more in some cases, are the maximum which can be arranged at present.
Would the Minister not think it would be an appropriate time to review this special service charge?
It is a question of money. It is not easy to come by.
Would the Minister agree with me when I say that, if an individual lives in an out of the way place, it is hard lines on him if he cannot get electricity due to shortage of money in Government circles, as the Minister has admitted already?
We are keeping it under continuous review. I may say the total loss on rural electrification in 1968-69 was £2.17 million. That is the nature of the subsidy the community are paying for rural electrification.
Is the Minister further aware that during the 1957 General Election campingn the prospective Taoiseach at the time, the then Deputy Seán Lemass, promised that if Fianna Fáil were re-elected they would abolish the special service charge?
We arranged for a reducation in mid-1968 which amounted to over 50 per cent.
In 1957 it was Government policy to abolish the special service charge but it has not been abolished.
I should like to see the quotation.