asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the number of applications which his Department has received for telephones—and which have not so far been connected—in the following areas, viz.—Rathmines and Rathgar, Terenure and Rathfarnham; how many of these applications were made more than twelve months ago, and how many more than eighteen months ago; what is the reason for these delays, and when is it expected that the connections will be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Applications for Telephones.
The number of applications for telephone service in the Rathmines, Rathgar and Terenure areas not complied with is 115, of which 10 are between 12 and 18 months on record and 8 longer than 18 months. Of the remainder, 34 are less than 3 months. The cause of the delay in providing service is the impossibility of taking on additional subscribers at the existing Rathmines Exchange, which is obsolete and congested. Authority has been received for the erection of new automatic exchanges at Rathmines and Terenure but, as these cannot be in operation for about two years, consideration is being given to the possibility of providing, as a temporary expedient, an additional manual exchange in the area, so as to enable service to be afforded in the meantime to all who require it. There is no difficulty as regards service in the Rathfarnham district and no applicants unprovided for. As a special measure arrangements are being made, and will be shortly in force, to serve applicants residing in Rathdown Park and vicinity temporarily from Rathfarnham until such time as they can be connected to an exchange at Terenure.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that two years ago he told me that plans had been approved for building a new office in this area and that the sixty odd subscribers awaiting telephone connections would get them in the immediate future, but now, two years later, he tells me that there are about one hundred persons unconnected?
It is a fact that two years ago plans had been approved, but in the meantime sites had to be acquired in Rathmines and Terenure. There was considerable delay in the acquisition of the site, and, having acquired it, we found that we could not hope to complete the building of the automatic exchange before two and a half years. On that account we resorted to a temporary expedient, and we hope in a short time to be able to provide for the number of people who are anxious to get telephones.