asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he is aware of the excessive and in some cases prohibitive amounts being quoted by the ESB for connecting new homes with electricity and small business premises with three phase service and if he would be prepared to advance further grant aid to alleviate the hardship caused.
Written Answers. - ESB Connecting Charges.
164.
I am informed by the ESB that the amounts quoted for connection of new homes to the electricity supply are directly related to the costs involved in making supply available. The costs can vary greatly from location to location and depend to a great extent on the distance of the premises from the nearest supply point.
The ESB also tell me that the terms on which three-phase supply can be made available depend on the cost of the work and on the utilisation of the supply capacity to be provided.
There are no funds at my disposal to subsidise the installation of electricity. I should point out, however, that the ESB have already introduced improved terms for connection costs, particulars of which were given to the House on 15 November 1978 (volume 309/6— column 975/976).
I might also add that the Industrial Development Authority give grant assistance to small industries towards the cost of installing three-phase services where this forms part of the eligible fixed assets involved in the establishment or expansion of a project. The authority have not had any significant volume of representations in this matter.