asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total number of deaths in this country per megawatt as a result of electrical faults.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Fatalities.
9.
I am informed by the ESB that according to their records the number of deaths by electrocution on the consumer's side of the meter in 1970 was five, compared with four in 1969 and seven in 1968. The total for the three year period 1968 to 1970 was 16 which is the same as the figure for the three year period 1965-67. Central Statistics Office records of deaths caused by electricity which apparently are not compiled on the same basis as the ESB figures are:
|
1967— |
10 deaths |
|
1968— |
8 ,, |
|
1969— |
7 ,, |
|
1970— |
not available. |
I am unable to say the extent to which the deaths in any year were attributable to electrical faults or to an inadvertent act by the person concerned without any electrical fault being present.
At the end of the year 1969-70 the ESB installed generating capacity was 1,409.5 megawatts. The number of megawatt hours generated and purchased was 5,245. These figures if related to five deaths in 1970, give results of 282 and 1,049 respectively. If the Deputy's purpose is to establish a trend, I can say that the trend is downward over the period I have mentioned.