asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is in a position to state what towns and villages in West Clare will be included in the rural electrification scheme, and if he can state how soon work on the scheme will begin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that work is in progress in one area in West Clare under the rural electrification scheme. Quilty and Mullagh are included in the area and will get supply in the near future. All towns and villages having a population of 250 or under come within the scope of the scheme. It is not possible to say when any particular area will be selected for development, as priority is given to areas showing the best return.
May I ask when did the practice begin of giving priority to areas showing the best financial return? Was it not intended that the bringing of the scheme to an area would be determined solely by technical considerations and was not the economy of the scheme based on an extension to the whole country as quickly as possible?
As I indicated in the reply, the scheme is extended to any village whether there is a population of 250 or not. But, in the actual fixing of priority, the Electricity Supply Board inform me that they grant priority to an area which gives the best return, while complying with the requirement of supplying with the with a population of 250 or under.
It is an innovation to have regard to the financial returns in a particular area when selecting it for priority. The scheme was not prepared on that basis, but contemplated an extension of the existing network as rapidly as possible, the areas to which it was to be extended being fixed solely by technical considerations.
The Deputy's information is news to me, because I had experience in dealing with the board when I was on the other side, and I found the same difficulty with them as they mention here. If it is an innovation, I shall have the matter inquired into.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary appreciate the extraordinary claim which County Clare has for immediate attention in regard to this matter; that the ratepayers of County Clare contributed scores of thousands of pounds in working capital to the Electricity Supply Board because of the derating of the scheme and of the buildings?
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is intended to include portions of East Clare in the plans for rural electrification; and, if so, whether the towns of Scariff, Feakle, Mountshannon and Whitegate will be included, and, further, if he can state how soon work on the part of the scheme covering these towns will begin.
The Electricity Supply Board inform me that in East Clare the area round Quinn has been supplied under the rural electrification scheme. Mountshannon, Whitegate and Feakle can be included for consideration under the scheme but these areas will be in competition with other areas seeking supply and priority in development is given to areas yielding the best return.
As the population of Scariff is 363 it is outside the scope of the rural electrification scheme which is limited to villages of 250 population or under.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these places have been looking for this supply for years, and that the source of the supply is within a few miles of them?
I am not so aware, but I can inform the Deputy that under the rural electrification scheme the population aspect must be taken into consideration.
Is Deputy Hogan staking a claim for the whole Shannon river?
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate which towns in County Galway not at present served by the Electricity Supply Board are eligible for supply by means of (a) rural electrification schemes, and (b) ordinary development.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the towns in County Galway which are eligible for supply under the rural electrification scheme are :— Aughrim, Ballymoe, Barna, Cloonbur, Creggs, Glenamaddy, Kilconnell, Laurencetown, Menlough, Monivea, Newtownbellew, Roundstone, Spiddal, Williamstown, Woodford.
I am also informed by the board that the towns which fall for consideration in the course of ordinary development are:— Clifden, Dunmore, Mountbellew, Headford, Oughterard.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will ask the Dublin County Council to have electric current provided in the villages of Garristown and Ballyboughal under the rural electrification scheme.
The Dublin County Council has no functions in the matter. The primary considerations taken into account by the Electricity Supply Board in selecting areas (including those now referred to) were explained to the Deputy in a reply given on 12th May last. I understand, however, that the Electricity Supply Board are taking steps to ascertain the number of inhabitants who would be willing to avail of the facilities, and that the ultimate decision will depend upon the extent of the demand for the service in relation to that from other corresponding adjacent areas.