Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am glad to learn that the Minister will reconsider the measure, which benefited community groups, businesses and sporting organisations. City people in particular do not understand rural Ireland's problems, the greatest of which is existent, but poor quality electricity supply. Businesses are trying to operate and create employment, but it costs them a fortune to install three-phase electricity.

Whatever review the Minister is undertaking in respect of the CLÁR programme, many causes are worthy of support while others are not so worthy. It is important for rural life and business to reintroduce this scheme. The Minister should try to find some funding, even if the scheme was to be confined to the business element for the present, to try to create employment. I ask the Minister to provide some funding in his budget for this year to try to maintain the three-phase electricity conversion scheme for the business element, in an effort to retain employment in rural and Gaeltacht areas.

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