(Cavan) asked the Minister for Local Government if he is aware that several prefabricated houses have been provided in County Cavan for people in the lower income group but that they have not yet been fitted for electric light; and that this will not be done unless each tenant pays as much as £100; how this practice compares with other counties; and if steps will be taken to have electric light installed in the houses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Cavan Domestic Electric Lighting.
68.
I am informed by Cavan County Council that of the 60 prefabricated dwellings provided by them to date only four are not fitted for electric light—I am sorry; I made a mistake earlier today; I thought that only ten were not fitted—and that these are located in very remote areas where either there is no electricity supply available or it would be quite uneconomic to connect to the mains. I understand, however, that the majority of dwellings have not yet been connected to the electric mains. It was formerly the council's policy to let the tenant arrange for a connection, but in view of the high cost involved the council now accept this responsibility. The position is that ten of the dwellings have been connected, arrangements have been made to connect up another nine, quotations are at present under consideration by the housing authority for a further 30 and they intend to seek quotations for the remaining seven dwellings shortly.
Details are not available in my Department as to the practice adopted by other housing authorities regarding the provision of current and electric fittings in prefabricated dwellings, but generally, specifications for such dwellings make provision for electric services.
(Cavan): The Parliamentary Secretary will now appreciate, I hope, that when he was speaking earlier today he was speaking about houses that were wired? I hope he will agree that the important thing is to have them connected to the ESB network?
This is the purpose of wiring them.
(Cavan): But is it not a fact that in the reply the Parliamentary Secretary said that the county council left the connection to the tenant? Would the Parliamentary Secretary be surprised to hear that the little formality of connecting up would cost the tenant in many cases as much as £100 and for that reason they were not connected?
Yes, I would be surprised.
(Cavan): Will the Parliamentary Secretary make further inquiries and will he encourage Cavan county manager to bear the cost of connecting those houses? Perhaps he has changed his policy recently on this?
I understand there has been a recent decision of Cavan County Council to do just this.