asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state what steps have been taken to improve the telephone services in the Rathmines and Terenure areas; how many applications for telephones in these areas are still unsatisfied, and how many of these applications were made-more than six months ago.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rathmines Telephone Service.
A temporary Relief Exchange was opened at Terenure on the 1st July last which enabled all applications for telephone service in that locality to be met. In addition, the lines of 240 subscribers resident in Terenure have been transferred from Rathmines Exchange to the Relief Exchange. The equipment set free atRathmines will be used to provide service for waiting subscribers in that area, as soon as additional underground cables which are essential have been laid and a rearrangement of overhead lines carried out. The work is in hand and is being pressed forward with all possible expedition, but as some of the new cables have to be specially manufactured, at least four months will probably elapse before completion of the scheme. The number of outstanding applications for service in the Rathmines area is 91, 53 of which are more than six months old.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that almost three years ago he gave me an assurance in the House that this matter was having attention and that he hoped that in the immediate future arrangements would be made whereby applicants for telephones would all be met? Can he now say, after a lapse of three years, what additional period will be necessary before these waiting subscribers are satisfied with telephone connections?
As indicated in my answer, we expect that the requirements of all the subscribers in that area will be met within four months by means of a temporary relief scheme. The main scheme, which includes the building of a Post Office and Exchange in Rathmines, will take a considerable time. In any case, we can definitely state that requirements will be met within six months at the longest.