asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of new houses awaiting connection to an electricity supply.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Supply Connections.
13.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps he intends to take to have new houses completed in recent months in both urban and rural areas connected to an electricity supply.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together. I am informed by the ESB that it is not possible to state the precise number of new houses awaiting connection at any one time without a considerable amount of research. The present annual rate of new house connections is about 15,000 with over 10,000 of these arising in estates. Connection to houses can be delayed in certain cases due to local difficulties —for example, peaks of house completion, simultaneous completions at different parts of a big estate with no development in between et cetera. The board must work within the limits of the capital available and it would be unreasonable to ask them to gear themselves generally to completely obviating such delays.
Connection to isolated houses in rural areas can be held up because of the necessity to keep to the planned rural electrification programme 1971-75. The aim of this programme is to offer supply at subsidised terms to all unconnected rural householders by 1975. To achieve this target it is essential that the ESB proceed systematically, rural area by rural area, not diverting resources to making individual connections to supply out of turn, which are wasteful of both capital and labour.
If the Deputy has any specific cases in mind I will have their positions examined by the board on receipt of details.
Would the Minister be agreeable to take a particular look at delays in rural areas within a 15 mile radius of Dublin? He will find there are particularly long delays in this area.
Yes, if the Deputy will give me specific townlands.