asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the amount of State subsidy in respect of gas paid to the Dublin Gas Company; the date on which this subsidy was first decided; the amount sanctioned by the Government at that point in time; and the increase in the consumer price index since that date.
Written Answers. - Gas Company Subsidy.
16.
The total of town gas subsidy paid to the Dublin Gas Company up to 30 September 1979 amounts to £12.4 million.
The subsidy, at the rate of 12½ per cent of the price for town gas, was introduced on 1 July 1975. Following an increase in the price of town gas recommended by the National Prices Commission the subsidy was augmented by an additional 16.5p per therm on domestic type gas with corresponding increases for other categories of users with effect from 25 May 1977. With the earlier 12½ per cent rate, the total subsidy payable in the case of Dublin domestic gas consumers became 21.55p per therm. The subsidy was reduced by 4.5p per therm for all categories from 1 February 1978 and has remained unchanged since. The consumer price index rose by 64.5 per cent between mid-May 1975 and mid-August 1979.