asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has plans to reduce the ESB special charges and capital contributions in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Special Service Charges.
40.
I have no plans for changing the existing arrangements for determining rural electricity charges.
As the Deputy is aware, the present four year programme aimed at completing rural electrification by 31st March, 1975, will cost £18 million, towards which the Government are contributing £10 million. This outlay will bring the total cost of rural electrification up to £67 million, including Government subsidy of £27 million. Rural consumers, in cases where special service charges apply, are paying fixed charges which are only about a quarter of what they would be if full economic rates were charged.
Special service charges and capital contributions only apply in cases where the cost of connection to the electricity supply is such that the ESB have no alternative, having regard to their financial limitations, but to apply such arrangements.
Is the Minister aware that there is grave disquiet amongst members of the rural community who have not yet been connected by the ESB because of the fact that some quotations are exorbitant and cannot be met by the people concerned? What grant per house is available to the ESB? Do I understand that it has been increased three times in the past? Is that correct?
I am sorry but I have not got that information. It certainly has been increased in the past three years and I think it was also done prior to that.
Is the Minister aware that after they have been connected the special service charge stays on in saecula saeculorum? People who are lucky enough to be born on the roadside have not got to pay the special charge. Is the Minister aware that in the rural areas there are two different sets of tariffs depending on where you live? The special service charge should be done away with. Will the Minister see to that, and also see to it that the whole country is charged on the same level?
I should like to emphasise to the Minister the importance of that. We are up against it every day. Fantastic prices are being asked as special service charges.
I want to help the Deputy but he must help the Chair by asking a supplementary question.
It is not a question of where you are born. It is the cost to the Electricity Supply Board of bringing a supply to the consumer. This has often been debated in this House. On one or two occasions it has been reduced. At the moment the ESB are losing over £3 million on rural electrification. If the special service charge were to be eliminated, the ESB would have to bear the cost and that would reflect on the other consumers in towns like Killarney, Cork and Dublin. They would have to pick up what would be the short-fall from the point of view of the ESB.
Could there not be a special subvention from the Central Fund?
The financial position of the ESB at the moment is such that we would have to continue it for some months and maybe for a full year under present circumstances. I do not think there is any case for making a change.
What the Minister is saying is correct but we have social obligations as well. I am sure the Minister is aware that special cases deserve special consideration. A new look is needed.
Question No. 41.
I said in my reply that the £67 million includes a Government subsidy of £27 million. That is a recognition by the Government of their social obligations.
I have a problem. The son of a person living in my constituency built a house in Galway. Within 30 feet of that house there is an ESB pole.
The Deputy is making a statement.
The ESB say that he cannot be connected with that pole and must be connected with another at a cost of £450. Can the Minister explain to me why this private residence cannot be connected to the nearest source of supply?
If the Deputy puts down a question relating to that particular case I will try to find out for him.