asked the Minister for the Environment if he is aware of the substantial numbers of houses connected to the electricity supply by the ESB in recent years but not properly wired and in view of the danger, the proposals, if any, to intervene in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Supply Wiring.
15.
No evidence has been provided to me which would support the allegation in this question that substantial numbers of houses connected to the electricity supply by the ESB in recent years are a potential source of danger because they are not properly wired for electrical purposes.
While I deprecate vague and generalised allegations which could give rise to unwarranted disquiet on the part of householders, I will, of course, draw the attention of my colleague, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy to any specific evidence that may be submitted in support of the Deputy's allegations.
I would like to state that standards for electrical wiring installations are set by the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland and apply to all local authority housing and are incorporated in the outline specification for all grant-aided new private houses. I am advised that where these standards are complied with there should be no consequential danger to householders. As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply of 8 March 1979, I have asked the council to consider the means open to them to ensure that their standards are met in all new buildings. I am aware that the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy has also been reviewing the question of compliance with council standards by the electrical contractors.
Am I right in saying that the ETCI standards are a voluntary set of standards?
ETCI standards, which come under the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy are incorporated in the requirements for all new grant-aided houses. The procedure adopted is that the electrical contractor signs the ETCI form which states that the national rules have been complied with.
Is the Minister aware that the individual contractor who undertakes the wiring, who may not have had half a day's training in electrical work, signs a form guaranteeing his work and indicates that it conforms to certain standards and that there is no other check or guarantee of any kind that the standards apply? Is the Minister aware that people like the electrical safety bureau, who are a responsible body of people, and others, have said that, even allowing for the law of averages, there are many houses where those standards are not being complied with and where there is no second check of any kind, apart from the word of the person who put in the wiring? We do not expect him to say that the wiring has not been done. Is it not very evident from incidents which have occurred that there is reason for concern here, without being alarmist about it?
The ESB connect supplies and will accept responsibility for wiring only as far as the fuse box. There is nothing to stop the householder from asking the ESB to check the installation to which they connect the supply. I understand that the ESB charge a fee for this service.
How much do they charge?
I do not know.
Would the Minister believe that they charge £50?
I have not got details of the fee, but they will test the wiring before making the connection.
People do not want to pay £40 or £50 for work which has already been paid for.
We were in touch with the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy on this matter, as the Deputy knows from a previous question.
16.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will extend the grant for electrical rewiring at present available to people in corporation houses, to people of low income, unemployed, widowed or physically incapacitated who live in private houses, if not, if he will make some provision for people who wish to have only electrical rewiring carried out.
I have no intention at present of extending the scope of eligibility for the grant for electrical rewiring in Dublin Corporation vested houses. However, the cost of electrical rewiring as part of a scheme of improvement works in a house can be included in calculating the amount of the grant, where the cost of the electrical work does not exceed 50 per cent of the total cost of the improvement scheme.
I thank the Minister for his reply but does he not agree that the final sentence of his reply is the nub of the question? If somebody has to rewire his house to meet the requirements of the ESB, who are a State agency, he may not be in a financial position to do so. A person is excluded from getting a grant unless other work is undertaken. Having regard to the hardship involved and to the fact that sometimes the ESB refuse to continue supply, would the Minister review the position in relation to certain cases?
Is the Deputy referring to a separate grant for wiring?
The final sentence of the Minister's reply states that rewiring is accommodated if it does not exceed 50 per cent of the cost. If that constraint is removed in cases of need, the Minister would be going a long way towards meeting the request and the actual cost of extending the grant would be negligible.
As the Deputy said, grants are not paid separately for rewiring.
It would not cost very much and would make life easier for many people. The Minister should examine the matter.
I will have the matter examined.