asked the Minister for Local Government if he has received an application from Donegal County Council concerning the installation of an electricity supply in demountable dwellings; if he is prepared to consider this type of expenditure as eligible for subsidy at the approved rate; and if, in view of the urgency of this matter, he will make known his decision without delay.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Donegal Electricity Supply.
77.
An inquiry on this subject has been received from the county council and a reply will issue as soon as possible.
Is the Minister aware that the type of people concerned in this matter are the poorest of the poor in our community, that the county council have gone out of their way to provide demountable dwellings for them, and that the Department of Local Government have sanctioned the erection of these demountable dwellings? The application is with the Department to recognise them as eligible for the normal subsidy rate. Surely the Minister, after many months, should be in a position to say more than that a reply will be issued in the course of time? What is the cause of the delay?
There is no undue delay at all. The Donegal County Council wrote to my Department on 20th April and supplied further information on 18th May. This matter is being actively investigated and I will issue the results of that investigation as soon as I can.
Do the Minister's civil servants have to go into detail and look for further information in regard to linking up a demountable dwelling with electricity? Is this not happening every day in the Department? Would a simple telephone message not straighten out the whole matter?
It will be settled fairly soon.