asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make representations to the E.S.B. to expedite the carrying through of the rural electrification scheme in the parish of Milltown, County Kerry.

The selection of areas for development under the rural electrification scheme and the determination of their order of priority are matters solely for the E.S.B. and I have no function. I do not, therefore, propose to make representations to the board in regard to the Milltown area.

Am I right in saying that the Parliamentary Secretary intervened in other cases similar to this one, and would it not be appropriate if I again ask him to make representations to the E.S.B.? My point is that the Parliamentary Secretaries under various Governments have intervened in cases like that and it is not a matter outside their functions.

Parliamentary Secretaries have not intervened in any such cases.