Vol. 436 No. 1
162 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason that the review of the EC electrification scheme for farmers has not been completed; and when it will be completed in view of the continuing hardship being caused to applicants.
Grant-aid towards the cost of installation and upgrading electricity supply to farms in disadvantaged areas has been provided for over a decade, initially under the EC funded FEOGA Western Aid package and, since 1990, under the Exchequer funded farm electrification grant scheme.
When the present scheme was introduced in 1990, £500,000 was available for grant-aid. However, budgetary constraints reduced that amount to £150,000 in 1992 and 1993.
