asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of householders in County Galway who will benefit under the terms of the new rural electrification scheme.
13.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electrification Scheme.
12.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the areas and the number of applicants in County Cork that will benefit under the Electricity Supply (Amendment) Bill, 1976.
14.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the areas and the number of applicants in County Wexford that will benefit under the Electricity Supply (Amendment) Bill, 1976.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 14 together.
I am informed by the ESB that they are at present in the process of extracting particulars of householders who are likely to benefit under the terms of the proposed legislation in relation to rural electrification. I understand that this list should be completed in about a month and at that stage I will convey the information to the Deputies concerned.
Might I ask the Minister to explain to the House why the Department of Transport and Power put the cart before the horse? When such a Bill is being introduced in the House one would expect that all this information would have been obtained from the ESB prior to its drafting and preparation? Surely this information is vital to the content of the Bill being brought before the House rather than going back, when the Bill has been drafted, looking for information.
I think the ESB were aware of what might be described as the general outline of the problem as affecting householders in outlying areas and the Minister was satisfied that there was a need for such legislation. While the legislation is going forward the ESB are in the process of extracting detailed particulars of householders likely to benefit. As I have explained, this list should be completed in about a month. It is a question of filling in details where a broad outline is known.
In the absence of the Minister for Transport and Power is the Minister aware that in my constituency—and I am sure in all constituencies—there are large numbers of people withholding their consent to estimates from the ESB for the installation of electricity in the hope—and I would think it is a forlorn one—that this Bill will help them? Would the Minister not tell them straight and fair that there is nothing in this Bill for them, that the amount of money being provided will be sufficient for one or two areas only; that, as far as mine and most other constituencies are concerned, there is not a penny of help for them?
The questions initially tabled were specific and factual. I have informed the House of the position in relation to them, which is that the material they are looking for is not available at this stage but that I can supply it in about a month. The question now put by the Deputy—and I think he showed his consciousness of it—is quite a separate one and I have not material before me to reply to it.
The Minister mentioned that the questions were factual. The answer given was certainly evasive.