asked the Minister for Energy the average waiting period for applicants for electricity in County Mayo in February 1980 as compared to February 1979, and the number of outstanding applications.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mayo Electricity Applicants.
25.
As the Deputy is aware, records for County Mayo exclusively are not kept by the Electricity Supply Board, as the county is covered by their Galway and Sligo district offices. The board tell me, however, that on reconsideration they feel that information relating to their Ballina and Castlebar group offices would present a more representative picture of the actual situation in County Mayo.
The board inform me that electricity supply to applicants in these two districts was being made available in February 1980, approximately three to four months from the date of firm quotation, as compared to an estimated six to nine months in February 1979. The board stress that these are averages and the periods can vary considerably depending on the location of the houses and the local supply conditions.
The board also tell me that 185 applicants have been given firm quotations but have not yet been connected to supply. A further 300 to 400 applicants have requested quotations but have not yet received them although many have been given rough estimates. The board add that many of these applications may never become firm applications for supply as they are made by people pricing sites or considering building new houses.
In addition there are approximately 30 applicants eligible for supply under the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1976, who have not yet been connected to supply. They are now scheduled for connection by September 1980.
Is the Minister aware that many of these applicants are living in new houses for periods of up to seven months and have not been connected by the ESB?
The board pointed out that the time they gave was an average and some people may be waiting longer than the three or four months mentioned. In some cases the applications relate, perhaps, to houses in the more remote areas of County Mayo. I am sure the Deputy is more aware of that than I am. This involves the board in providing an infrastructure and work in connection with that infrastructure was seriously disrupted as a result of very bad weather in the winter of 1978-79. While the board have caught up fairly well, the whole programme was interrupted. I accept that there may be people waiting as long as the Deputy says and certainly I will communicate to the board the concern expressed by him to ensure that the backlog is cleared as soon as possible.
The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper.