Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 7

Written Answers. - Power Supply Fee.

Mary Harney

Question:

85 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason Government Departments are required to pay a fee to a private company (details supplied) in order to get a power supply from a semi-State body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11495/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

As Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, I do not have a statutory function in relation to the safety and technical standards for electrical contracting work. The Electro-Technical Council of Ireland specifies standards for electrical installation work. I am concerned, however, that the public should be able to rely on an acceptable standard of workmanship, and have therefore welcomed efforts by the industry to ensure that adequate technical standards are applied.

The company to which the Deputy refers was set up as a non-statutory, self-regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry. The objective of the body is to oversee the application of satisfactory standards for electrical installation work. In support of the registration process the Electricity Supply Board stipulated that, with effect from 1 September 1992, electrical supplies would only be connected to installations where (a) a member of the body in question certified that work complied with the national wiring rules or (b) where an inspector employed by that body certified that work by a non member complied with the wiring rules. Each inspection is subject to a fee.