Vol. 433 No. 3
61 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if there is currently a dispute between his Department and the ESB concerning aspects of the subsidised ESB scheme; the problems, if any, which exist; and the steps, if any, he is taking to resolve the issues involved.
Schemes of grant-aid towards the cost of installation and upgrading of electricity supply to farms in the disadvantaged areas have been in operation for over ten years, initially under the EC funded FEOGA Western Aid package and more recently under the Exchequer funded Farm Electrification Grants Scheme.
In 1992 and 1993 budgetary constraints reduced the amount of available grant-aid to £150,000 in each of these years. Having regard to the need to ensure that the scheme is focused correctly and the current budgetary constraints I am considering the future options for the scheme.
