asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to rural electrification the number of areas developed, and to be developed, in 1956-57, 1957-58, and 1958-59, and the total number of areas which will remain for development on 1st April next.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
The number of areas developed in 1956-57 was 80. Of these, 54 areas were completed before the end of September, 1956, and 26 areas in the remaining half of the year. The E.S.B. is aiming at the development of not less than 60 areas during the year 1957-58. The number of areas to be developed in 1958-59 has not yet been decided.
I am informed by the E.S.B. that on 1st April next 184 areas will remain for development.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the present Tánaiste, when Deputy Lemass, gave a most specific undertaking during the general election campaign that he was going to step up substantially the number of areas to be developed in 1957-58 over 1956-57?
That is not a fact.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain how it is that the number of 60 areas per year is greater than the number of 80 areas per year?
The figure of 54 areas in the first half of 1956-57 has to be compared with the figure of 26 in the second half of that year and I am merely comparing the 60 with the current year. The Deputy was Minister for Finance at the time and I imagine he can give a better explanation as to why the capital stringency arose which the E.S.B. advanced as a reason for the reduction in the second half of the year.
Is it not now a fact that the number of areas for rural electrification to be completed this year will be lower than the number in each of the previous three years?
Is this another instance of the plans of the Minister for Industry and Commerce ceasing to be plans when they turn blue? Perhaps the Minister for Industry and Commerce can answer that?
Did a direction go from the Minister for Industry and Commerce to cut out all areas described as semi-economic or uneconomic, with the result that pockets of developed areas are denied rural electrification at the present time?
That direction was given two years ago under Deputy Sweetman.
It was given within the last few months.
What on earth is the Minister for Health talking about? Greyhounds seem to have gone to his head.