asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that a small farmer (name supplied) in County Cork will be supplied with electricity if he pays down £766 to the ESB; and if he will have the matter investigated so that this man will be offered terms which he can really afford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Charges.
39.
The ESB are carrying out the rural electrification post development scheme in a planned sequence of areas. The object of this orderly programme is to keep the cost of the work to the lowest possible level and thus ensure that the maximum number of connections are made within the capital available. The board are, on occasions, pressed to make connection out of turn and in cases where this is physically possible because of the ready availability of equipment and because it would not divert staff from planned work the board will offer to extend supply but only on payment by the applicant of the full cost of the work. In cases of this kind the amount paid is refunded when the planned scheme reaches the applicant's area.
I understand from the board that the householder in question is such an applicant. If he awaits development of his area in its turn, there will be no question of requiring any capital contribution from him.