asked the Minister for Local Government if he has instructed Galway County Council that demountable dwellings for elderly people in rural areas are not to be connected to electricity supply where the cost of connection exceeds £200; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Connection.
20.
I have not so instructed Galway County Council; indeed, I have indicated to the local authority that I am opposed in principle to the provision of dwellings without adequate lighting and cooking facilities. I did, however, inform the county council, in May of last year, that where the cost of the electricity connection to a demountable dwelling exceeds £200, my prior approval to the expenditure should be sought.
Can the Minister say whether he has received a request from Galway County Council for approval in any case where a demountable dwelling was involved or whether he has received a request from them in respect of a dwelling other than a demountable one? They are using this as an excuse although the Minister may not wish that to happen.
No, no instructions were issued to any housing authority and no specific case has been received from Galway County Council. There was a suggestion made as a result of a resolution passed in June, 1976, that when the cost of electricity is too high applicants should be given the option of accepting houses without electricity. I agree that there may be occasions where they want this done and I have approved it in circumstances where it was impossible to get electricity and where other sites cannot be obtained. There is no question of refusing Galway or any other county council permission to spend more than £200. But in order to let local authorities know how serious I consider the need to get an electricity connection to houses at a reasonable cost, I have asked local authorities to select sites close to electricity supplies where this is possible rather than pay an excessive sum for connection to a demountable dwelling which is in a sense a temporary dwelling.
Would the Minister consider changing the recommended figure of £200 to something more realistic because the ESB are charging £200 per pole for installing a supply? A house would not be too far away from an electricity supply if it required only one pole to extend the supply to a dwelling. The present figure is very low.
I shall keep it under review, but in view of a recent decision by the ESB it may be possible to have more people connected to the supply at a reasonable cost. I want local authorities to erect dwellings where connections can readily be made rather than just taking the first site offered which may not be suitable for an electricity connection.
The recent decision by the ESB only applies where the cost is over £300. I think the figure of £200 is unrealistic. The Minister knows the ESB charge that for one pole. The Minister should make the figure at least £400.
I do not think this is as serious as the Deputy seems to think. My reply to Deputy Molloy was because of the change; it may possibly have to be adjusted now, but in no case so far have I refused sanction——
I did not say so.
——where a case was made to me. It is not anything that is holding up the connection to demountable dwellings.
Would the Minister not accept that in general local authorities have endeavoured as far as possible to comply with the conditions laid down? Does he not agree that they have to get prior approval from him where the cost exceeds £200 per demountable house and that this delays the supply of demountable dwellings to people badly needing them?
I do not think it has any bearing on the matter. A local authority have only to notify me that under special circumstances they require something to be done. Galway County Council have, in fact, provided a number of demountable dwellings without electricity in very remote areas of the county. If they make a reasonable case—so far all their cases have been reasonable——
But would the Minister not agree that in such circumstances he should leave it to the discretion of the council to decide whether or not they should erect a demountable dwelling and supply electricity?
In no case will they be held up for more than a week. I shall have a decision back to them before they have the demountable dwellings on the site and they are aware of this.