asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware of the extreme hardship caused in County Monaghan by the scheme approved by him whereunder the ESB will not consider applications for supplies of light or power until regional surveys have been carried out, resulting in some cases in a delay of three years between the application and the provision of supplies; and whether he will direct the ESB to amend this procedure forthwith.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Electricity Supplies.
19.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question on rural electrification in County Monaghan on 10th November, 1964. I am satisfied that the Electricity Supply Board's procedure in this matter is in the best interests of the householders still awaiting electricity supply. It is understood from the Board that they have now recanvassed nine of the 20 rural areas in County Monaghan and that post-development work has been completed in seven of these and is in progress in the other two. These figures are on a par with the national average.
Conscious as I am that the Minister for Transport and Power is carousing in San Francisco and Los Angeles, I would venture to draw the attention of his colleagues to the fact that in my own and Deputy Childers' constituency, constituents have been waiting for three years to get a light into their houses. I have more than one case which I have submitted to the ESB of newly-married couples who entered a house in the anticipation of getting electric light and where grave domestic difficulties are arising——
The Deputy is asking a question?
I am. I am asking is it reasonable that in a rural constituency, where grave domestic difficulties are arising for the want of power and light —which all you boys are enjoying on your comfortable salaries—these are to be withheld from people simply because the Minister for Transport and Power made up his mind he would not allow them to have them in Monaghan, unless and until, for the convenience of the ESB, surveys were made in particular areas, without any reference to the requirements of the individuals who seek power and light in the county.
Mr. O'Malley
But the country is bust, according to you.
God knows, it is, but I am asking if, in the process of going bust, the convenience of the ordinary people is to be considered and not the ESB or the Minister who is going bust for them in San Francisco?
The Minister did inform the Deputy that practically all the people in the area already had an opportunity and it was for the purpose of orderly development and minimising cost that this re-surveying was undertaken.
I mean no personal discourtesy to the Minister when I say that it is exasperating to any Deputy that he should be repeatedly informed that in order to consult the convenience of a State company like the ESB, individuals should be put to the cost and inconvenience of having to wait two or three years for what most of us regard as an essential amenity in our houses?
The point of consideration is service at the minimum cost and not the convenience of any company.
You would not cut off sewers on the ground of minimising cost.