asked the Minister for Transport and Power if there are any proposals in his Department to have electricity supply extended to include the Doire Bhó Riada and Doire Mhíle Mháma areas of County Galway.
64.
Written Answers. - County Galway Electricity Supply.
63.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that people in the Doire Bhó Riada and Doire Mhíle Mháma areas of County Galway are experiencing difficulties as a result of lack of electricity supply in the area.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
I am informed by the ESB that the areas of Doire Bhó Riada and Doire Mhíle Mháma are included in the board's Clifden rural area where terms for supply under the final phase of the subsidised rural electrification scheme were quoted to 12 applicants in these areas in 1973. The quotation to each applicant included a capital payment of £56.2 due to the high costs involved in making supply available. The terms were not accepted at that time.
In April, 1975, following an approach to the board the applicants were advised that subsidised terms were no longer available as the rural electrification programme had been completed in the Clifden rural area. To extend supply to the 12 houses at that stage, an overall capital contribution of £12,000 would have been required. This was based on the cost of making supply available which would necessitate the erection of 5.6 kilometres of high tension line, one kilometre of low tension line, four transformers, service and meters.
As I mentioned in the Dáil recently I hope to introduce legislation shortly which will be designed to give further financial assistance to those householders who were quoted capital contributions, under subsidised terms, for connecting their houses to the electricity supply, but who were unable to accept the terms.