asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the earliest possible period in which rural electrification will be supplied to the upper and lower Rosses districts of West Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - West Donegal Rural Electrification.
I would refer the Deputy to the replies which I gave to similar questions which he addressed to me on the 10th June, 1952, and 29th November, 1951, to which I have at present nothing to add.
Is the Minister aware that this area forms part of the Donegal Gaeltacht which is being very speedily denuded of population through lack of industry and that we cannot have industry in the area without electricity?
I have informed the Deputy already that the extension of an electricity supply to that area was dependent on the extension of the main transmission system and that that, in turn, depended upon the construction of the works at the Clady River. The Deputy now knows that the work on the Clady River is going to commence next year although my predecessor's estimate was that it could not commence for another ten years.
Surely for the Clady River scheme it will be necessary to bring in electricity? Why not do it now?