Vol. 438 No. 4
260 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the current position on grant-aid towards the cost of installation and upgrading electricity supply to farms in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Farm Electrification Grants Scheme (FEGS) was introduced in 1990 to subsidise the cost of installation of electricity supply to farms, in disadvantaged areas, without supply or with inadequate supply. The scheme is a carry-over of the EC Funded FEOGA Western Package which was discontinued due to exhaustion of its financial allocation.
The present scheme is wholly State funded. ESB and the Department contribute 60 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, of the total costs of connection, leaving 20 per cent of the costs to be borne by the applicant.
