Could the Minister explain the rationale between the more favoured treatment given to rural and urban consumers particularly in relation to deferral of payment for connection? Is he aware that it can cost — and has cost in at least one case of which I am aware — up to £400 to connect a consumer to the ESB within a couple of hundred yards of the GPO, and that there is no possibility for would-be consumers, however indigent or however straitened their circumstances, to defer any part of the capital cost because they have to live in the city?

I am not aware of the case the Deputy mentioned. If the Deputy would care to put down a question, I will have it examined.