Vol. 573 No. 3
717 Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the financial supports available in CLÁR areas to assist farmers and residents to provide an electrical supply to houses which currently have no such supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25143/03]
The assistance provided under CLÁR is funding the cost of the customer contribution to the ESB for conversion from single phase to three-phase electricity supply for small businesses or enterprises. To qualify for assistance under the scheme, a business must be located in a CLÁR area and employ not more than ten people. The applicant must also have received assistance since 1 January 1997 in respect of the business from the county enterprise board, the local Leader group or Údarás na Gaeltachta. Assistance may be in the form of grant aid, training, mentoring or advice.
I refer the Deputy to the farm electrification grant scheme, FEGS, which is operated by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. FEGS subsidises the basic installation and-or conversion of electricity supply to farmhouses and farms engaged in traditional farming located in disadvantaged areas. Disadvantage in this case means the areas designated by the Department of Agriculture and Food as having a specific handicap and where conditions are particularly severe for farming.
I have been advised that there is no scheme of assistance in operation for residents of disadvantaged areas who are not involved in traditional farming.
Further information may be obtained from the electricity division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
