asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when, at the present rate of progress, the current scheme of rural electrification will be completed, and if he will further state the estimated number of homes that on such completion will still be without an electricity supply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that, at the present rate of progress, the scheme for rural electrification would be completed in approximately 12 years from now. Progress has been hampered by shortages of certain classes of materials and of skilled technicians. I am hopeful, however, that with a continuing improvement in the supply of materials, and with the availability of an increased number of trained engineers, the rate of development will be accelerated. It is anticipated that, due to refusal of supply on the terms offered, about 100,000 of all rural dwellings out of a total estimated at 400,000 will be without supply when the scheme is completed.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the 100,000 include both those who were offered and those who were not offered supply, or is it merely those who were offered and refused?
Under the present arrangement, supply is available to everybody. In accordance with the original scheme, it is estimated that approximately 70 per cent. of rural dwellings will get a supply at the normal rate of charge. In the case of the balance, it will be available at a somewhat higher charge. Every rural dweller will be offered supply but it is estimated that approximately 25 per cent. will not accept supply.
Every rural dweller in every area that is being developed? The original scheme provided that every area in the country would be covered, but I think there were certain districts which it did not cover.
The Deputy will recollect that under the original scheme it was decided that supply should be offered where the cost of connection did not exceed 12 times the annual fixed revenue and on that basis it was assumed that approximately 70 per cent. of the rural dwellers would be offered supply. Since then, the scheme has been modified to permit of the offer of supply to the other 30 per cent. of people, but at a somewhat higher charge, so that supply can be offered to everybody, although in some cases the charge may be higher than the normal charge.
I think the Minister's ratio is wrong. I think it is 17 to one and not 12 to one.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the apathy displayed by the local canvassers for the Mitchelstown parish area, he will request the Electricity Supply Board to make the Ballindangan parish area an independent unit for rural electrification as at the moment this area is joined with Mitchelstown for the purposes of the scheme.
I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that the Ballindangan parish area is too small to be considered as an independent unit for the purposes of the rural electrification scheme.
My reason for asking the question was to prove that, east of Mitchelstown, no determined attempt has been made and that west of Mitchelstown, Kildorrery included, a very nice scheme covering Kildorrery and Ballindangan could be put into operation.
I am sure that Ballindangan is a most important part of County Cork, but I can give the House no information concerning its position under the rural electrification scheme except what is given to me by the Electricity Supply Board.
It is every bit as important to me as Capel Street is to you.