asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state why he has not made provision for the extension of the Telephone Service to the Irish-speaking areas of the West and North-West of Tirconaill, comprising the large and most densely-populated part of the country, as indicated on the published Telephone Service Map, prepared by the Engineer-in-Chief of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - EXTENSION OF TELEPHONE IN TIRCONAILL.
DONNCHADH MAC CON ULADH
The problem of providing for the telephonic development of Tirconaill necessitated a considerable amount of preliminary work, which has been successfully accomplished. It was necessary to start operations from Longford and to erect new trunk lines to Sligo, from which point a main trunk system is now being extended in the direction of Mid-Tirconaill so as ultimately to link up with the existing Telephone Exchanges in the Northern portion of the county.
One of the primary purposes of this main trunk is to facilitate the opening of main exchanges en route at Donegal and Ballybofey, and until this work has been completed it is not feasible to give useful consideration to the question of extensions to the coastal areas of the West and North-West of Tirconaill, having regard to the very full programme of work scheduled for the country as a whole.
When the proposed exchanges at Donegal and Ballybofey materialise a scheme will be formulated as a matter of course for further extensions to the West and North-West of the county.
Is the Minister aware that the delay in extending telephonic facilities to North and North-West Tirconaill is acting as a great hindrance to the development of the tourist traffic, which is so very essential to the county?
I am quite aware of the fact.
Could the Minister indicate when these extensions will reach Inishowen?