asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will consider abolishing capital contributions in cases where the applicants did not have an opportunity of availing themselves of electricity supply when rural electrification was carried out in their respective areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
16.
The rural electrification planned post-development scheme is being carried out by the ESB on an area by area basis so as to keep the cost of the work to the lowest possible level and thus ensure that the maximum number of connections is made with the capital available. Capital contributions are sought by the board only from unconnected householders who are unwilling to wait until the planned scheme reaches their area. In such cases, if it is possible to make the connection without diverting staff from planned work, the board will offer to extend supply but only on payment by the applicant of a substantial contribution to the cost of the work, as the board's current budget for rural electrification will not have provided for the expenditure. Otherwise, some one or more householders who are already in the planned scheme would lose their place until a later date.
Persons who make capital contributions in these circumstances are reimbursed when the planned scheme reaches their areas. The present policy could not be altered without adversely affecting the progress of the general programme; to do so the average cost of supplying consumers would inevitably increase and slow down the overall rate of connection.