asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will indicate the progress made to date by the ESB in the matter of providing adequate supply in the Finglas and Ballymun areas of Dublin.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Electricity Supply.
51.
I am informed by the ESB that they are not aware of any supply difficulties in the Ballymun area. In some areas of Finglas, however, supply is below standard at times due to the district's above average increase in domestic consumption, particularly in the past two years.
The use of electricity by the board's domestic consumers is increasing at the rate of 13 per cent per annum and the board are constantly improving their network to cater for this increase.
In the Finglas area, it has been necessary to arrange for the building of new substations and the replacement of existing electricity mains. The mains work is nearly finished but planning difficulties have delayed the building of the new substations. These difficulties have now been resolved and it is expected that the substations will be completed and in commission by the middle of the next year. Thereafter it is hoped that only normal mains improvement will be necessary in the area.
In the past four years,£98,000 has been spent in the Finglas area on mains improvement and about £40,000 will be spent inside the next year.
Would the Minister say if, where the voltage in an area is not adequate, it adversely affects electrical equipment?
No.
This arises in other areas.
There is no doubt there is a voltage problem. Only about 2,000 out of a total of 10,000 houses in the area have a voltage problem and about 500 of the 2,000 have a serious problem. It is a supply problem but not a danger problem.
Is the Minister aware that on electrical equipment sold by the ESB it is stated that it should not be used with a voltage below 200, yet it is being used on a voltage below 200 and this can be dangerous?
Not dangerous, that is the wrong word.
Dangerous to the equipment.
Yes, but not to the consumer.
The board has this warning on the equipment but yet they are not able to provide the proper voltage.
The problem in this area as in every other expanding suburban area is that the demand is racing ahead of the supply because of increasing prosperity. You have more television sets, more washing machines and a greater demand.
And more talk about it too.
That is precisely what is involved. I want to assure the House that no question of safety is involved.
It happens in other areas.
Is the Minister telling us that it is bad planning on the part of the ESB?
It is part of present day progress and it applies to the ESB, to Aer Lingus and to our airports.
(Interruptions).
Question No. 52.