asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the exorbitant charge requested by the ESB for electricity supply to a person in County Offaly (name supplied); and if he will grant a subvention in this case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Connection Charges.
22.
I am informed by the ESB that the person in question resides in the board's Durrow rural area where development work under the final phase of the rural electrification programme was completed in February, 1973. Terms for supply recently quoted to the person in question are based on the actual cost of connecting his premises to the electricity system, as subsidised terms are not now available to applicants from the Durrow rural area.
In all rural areas an enormous charge is being put on applicants by the ESB. Have the Minister's Department any plans to give a subvention to these applicants? This man is being charged over £600 to get a supply. This is an enormous amount of money.
My Department have no plans for a subvention. In fact the ESB would be precluded by the statute under which they are established from giving a subvention but I have asked the ESB and my Department to try to identify for me the problems that will exist when the rural electrification scheme comes to an end next year and give me a brief with which to go to the Government to see what can be done for the remaining cases in rural areas.
The Minister is surely aware that this problem is causing great concern all over Ireland and that this stand on the matter is contributing to the de-population of rural Ireland and that it is time now to make moneys available to these unfortunate people.
I would remind the Deputy that two years ago moneys were made available for a crash programme for rural electrification to be completed next year. Until I get proposals from the ESB as to what should be done after that and until that money is used and the rural electrification scheme comes to an end, I do not intend to do anything further.
Could the Minister indicate whether he believes the ESB will be able to complete the rural electrification scheme within the time limit?
That is a separate question not relevant to what is on the Order Paper.
The Minister mentioned terms that were available two years ago——
No, I did not say anything about terms two years ago. I said moneys were provided.
The Deputy should relate his question to the matter on the Order Paper.
I am relating directly to the matter which the Minister mentioned. The applicants were not in a position to avail of the new houses which were built then——
The Deputy is engaging in argument. Question No. 23.
(Interruptions.)
That is a separate matter. The ESB dealt with the matter on a country-wide basis. Because there was a limited amount of money available they had to set an order of priority. They could not shift workmen from one area to another. This means that every area has been, on at least two occasions, offered subsidised terms for connection of electricity.
It is penalising——
We must finish this question.
Does the Minister consider it reasonable that an applicant should be asked to pay a sum as large as £600?
That is a hypothetical question.
(Interruptions.)
23.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power why a sporting body in Crosshaven, County Cork, (name supplied) should be asked by the ESB to contribute towards the cost of connection in view of the fact that this body is providing badly needed sporting amenities for the youth of the area.
I am informed by the ESB that a capital contribution has been sought in this case as the estimated revenue accruing to the board from the connection is not sufficient to cover the full costs involved. The capital contribution may however be refunded in whole or in part at a later stage, depending on the actual revenue received by the board from the connection and the likely future revenue.
The ESB are precluded by the statute under which they were established from giving preferential treatment to any consumers or class of consumers and this contains no provision for special treatment for bodies providing sporting amenities.
Would the Minister agree that the club concerned is providing useful facilities and amenities for the youth in the area concerned? In view of these circumstances, would he intervene to make this a special case for consideration by the ESB and if there is any way around the statutory regulations which he mentioned because——
This is a very long question.
I agree, but this has been discussed——
The Deputy must be brief.
Would the Minister consider any way in which a recommendation could be given to the board to withhold the charge in this case?
The answer to the second part of the Deputy's supplementary question is that there is no way around the statutory obligation on the ESB; therefore the rest of the supplementary does not arise.