asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has any plans to provide electricity supply to Clare island and to Inisturk and Inisbofin Islands, County Mayo.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Islands Electricity Supply.
1.
Substantial grants are being provided by the Land Commission to enable the inhabitants of Inisturk to transfer to the mainland and as the vast majority of the islanders are anxious to move the necessity to instal electricity on that island should not arise.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the extension of electricity supply to Clare Island and Inisbofin would be so costly that it would involve completely prohibitive special service charges and it is therefore not a practicable proposition.
Is the Minister aware that the islands in question are not Gaeltacht islands and because of this they have no possibility of getting a Gaeltacht grant? Some Gaeltacht islands are having electricity installed. Would the Minister consider having something done about the islands mentioned?
Electricity is being installed in the Gaeltacht islands with the assistance of a grant from Roinn na Gaeltachta. There are grants available from my Department for the installation of gas but this does not seem to be practicable. It would be extremely costly to provide generators for these islands. I appreciate the Deputy's concern. Naturally there is a certain amount of indignation because the Gaeltacht islands down the coast can have electricity installed and these islands, just 50 or 60 miles north of them, cannot. The cost of installing electricity would be prohibitive for the number of people living there. The bottled gas grant is available, but I am afraid it looks, from my preliminary soundings into the cost of special generators as if that also will be prohibitive. One generator is not enough, there must be a stand-by generator as well. This makes the cost extremely dear at present.
Is the Minister aware that the islands in question are becoming great tourist islands and that it is of great importance to the residents to be able to provide facilities for tourists? Viewing it in that light would he have another look at the situation?
I will, of course, have another look at it but I must warn the Deputy that at the moment the cost seems to be extremely high.