asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is in a position to state when rural electrification will be extended to the Charleville area, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that the Charleville area has been considered by the board on many occasions for development under the rural electrification scheme but has failed so far to qualify forselection as the estimated financial return would not justify the expenditure involved. The area will again be considered for selection in the future, but I am unable to state when development is likely to take place.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when the rural electrification scheme will be extended to Blackwater, County Wexford.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that the Blackwater area has been considered by the board on a number of occasions for development under the rural electrification scheme but has not so far been selected. The area will again be considered in the future but I am unable to state when development is likely to commence.
Is the Minister aware that the original Blackwater area contained the economic district of Kilmuckridge village, that it has now been taken out and in its place has been added an uneconomic area from the Castlebridge district, and that this has lowered the canvass considerably? The present position is that there would be a considerably improved canvass. As the rural electrification is functioning at the moment in the neighbouring district of Castlebridge, would it not be possible to move into the Blackwater area as soon as the Castlebridge area has been completed?
It has become the practice here of the Minister for Industry and Commerce to reply to questions regarding the progress of rural electrification. In fact he has nothing to do with it. The selection of areas is a matter for the board with which I do not intend to interfere.
I am only asking if the Minister would make representations to the board.
That is the Deputy's function.
I have already tried to do so, without success.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he willstate when it may be expected that the E.S.B. will commence a rural electrification scheme for the Pike of Rushall (near Castletown), County Laoighis, and if the canvass carried out was up to the standard expected by the board.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that Pike of Rushall is included in the Camross area which has been considered by the board on a number of occasions for development under the rural electrification scheme but has so far not been selected. The area will again be considered for selection in the future but I am unable to state when development is likely to commence. I am informed that the results of the canvass showed that a reasonably high percentage of householders was willing to accept a supply but that several areas in the district have shown a higher percentage of acceptances.