asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the plans, if any, he has to extend rural electrification to remote areas for those people who did not avail themselves of the supply offered when the areas were being serviced.
Written Answers - Rural Electrification.
258.
There are no funds at the disposal of my Department for any new State subsidised schemes of rural electrification.
There is, however, a western package electrification scheme administered by my Department and jointly funded by the State and the EEC which provides aid towards the cost of connection of electricity supply to farms in the west of Ireland. Qualified applicants in the designated counties will have to pay only 20 per cent of the total cost of connection. Details of the scheme and application forms are available from local ESB offices throughout the designated counties.
I am informed by the ESB that approximately 99 per cent of existing rural houses are connected to the electricity supply. In fact, since 1946 almost £158 million has been spent by the State and the ESB on rural electrification.
I also understand from the ESB that under their present terms for the provision of electricity supply (other than to qualified applicants under the western package) the board bear 40 per cent of the total cost of the work involved. These terms, which are effectively a subsidy by the board, are of considerable assistance in reducing connection costs for individual consumers in rural areas. In addition, facilities are available for payment of the applicant's contribution by instalments over a period of up to five years.
Question No. 259 withdrawn.