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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Dec 1981

Vol. 331 No. 12

Written Answers. - ESB Charges.

317.

asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware of the hardship being imposed on residents in rural Ireland by the exorbitant charges being made by the ESB for the installation of electricity; and if he will take steps to abolish such exorbitant charges.

I am aware of the financial burden that connection to the electricity supply may entail for some applicants. I recently asked the board to review their policy in regard to cost of connection. Accordingly the ESB have adopted a new policy whereby they will now pay 50 per cent of the cost of connection to supply. In addition, a scheme of deferred payments also operates whereby connection costs may be spread over a five-year period. I believe that the board have gone as far as can reasonably be expected at present in subsidising the cost of connection of electricity supply.

In regard to rural electrification generally the ESB have informed me that about 99 per cent of all rural householders are now connected to electricity supply. Quotations by the ESB for installation of electricity are directly related to the cost of making supply available. As costs can vary greatly from location to location and depend to a great extent on the distance of the house from the nearest supply point, the ESB for some years past have been carrying a significant portion of the cost of connection. In fact, since 1946 almost £100 million has been spent by the State and the ESB on rural electrification schemes.

There is also a subsidised electrification scheme under the Programme for Western Development. In this connection I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 28 October 1981, as reported in Volume 330, Columns 653 and 654 of the Official Report. Under this scheme, grants of 80 per cent of the capital cost of connection of electricity supply are available to farms in the West of Ireland.

318.

asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if in the short term he will ask the Electricity Supply Board to assist consumers on low incomes with a grant-in-aid towards their greatly increased electricity bills and have it provided either through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or through the supplementary welfare officers.

The ESB have informed me that the board are precluded from giving special treatment to particular customers on the lines referred to by the Deputy. However, they maintain a strong liaison with welfare officers and indeed with charitable organisations such as the St. Vincent de Paul.

I would also add that the Department of Social Welfare operate schemes of assistance for electricity costs in certain cases. Any question relating to the extension or improvement of these schemes is a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare.

Questions Nos. 319 and 320 postponed.

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