Vol. 363 No. 8
asked the Minister for Energy the number of people who have been approved for the western package electrification scheme; if an extension of this scheme will be available for new supplies; and if there will be a relaxation in the regulations governing this scheme.
8.
asked the Minister for Energy if his Department have any proposals to allow the western package electricity scheme to apply to local authority housing in isolated and rural areas.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 8 together.
Since the commencement of the scheme in August 1981 to end of December 1985, a total of 3,952 applications for grant aid have been approved by my Department.
In the case of the "new supplies" heading of the scheme, provision was made for 1,500 connections. This number has almost been reached, but the cost has been significantly lower than anticipated. An approach is being made to the EC Commission to increase the number.
As the Deputy will no doubt be aware from my press statement of 11 June 1985, I have put forward proposals for approval by the EC Commission suggesting relaxation of the regulations in two areas of difficulty. The first of these related to cases where a second dwelling house is built on a farm which already has an electricity connection and the second to cases where the owner of a farm has his sole income from the farm but is in receipt of income assistance or other social welfare benefits. The Commission's response to these proposals is awaited.
There are no provisions in the rules governing this EC scheme, as laid down in the relevant regulation, which would allow for the awarding of grants in cases where electricity supply is required for local authority housing. My Department are precluded, therefore, from allowing the scheme to apply in such cases.
Under the heading "new supplies", is the Minister saying that the target has almost been reached? Is he hopeful that the scheme will be extended?
Yes. The original provision was for 1,500 connections and that figure has almost been reached, but as the cost anticipated has not been realised and there has been a saving, an approach is being made to increase the number of connections.
How many have been connected?
I do not have the exact number, but it is in the region of 1,500.
Does that mean if the Minister does not get an extension there will be no new supplies provided under the scheme?
Yes, but we can be reasonably positive that our application will be received favourably since the money is still available.
I also asked about the relaxation of the regulations. The Minister said on another occasion that there would be an early decision taken on it. We have not as yet got that early decision.
We are still awaiting the Commission's response to those proposals.
When does the Minister think he will get the Commissions response?
I hope to have it before the Deputy again asks this question.
Six months from now?
I hope before that.
We have discussed this subject before and the scheme became more rigid as time passed. Apparently many people are being denied supplies because they are only looking for outfarms supplies, lights or electrical fencing and so on. It is a pity that these people could not be facilitated.
I agree that the criterion for the application became more rigid after the EC court of auditors checked our application, but it was not for the reason the Deputy gave. The true reason was a stricter interpretation of the scheme. My reason for going back to the Commission was for a relaxation of those terms.
