asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he has received complaints about the interminable delays in getting replies from telephone numbers 39, 31, 30, and 0, and whether he will take steps to expedite this service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Delays.
Representations are from time to time received regarding delay in answering calls to the four official numbers referred to, and the matter has been under close observation for some time past. So far as calls to "0", "30" and "31" are concerned, such delay as occurs is due to general growth in traffic, arising from emergency conditions, for which the equipment in the Crown Alley exchange is not wholly adequate at peak periods. The equipment cannot be supplemented on account of the exhaustion of accommodation in the exchange, but the position will be remedied when the new exchange in Exchequer Street, now in course of construction, is ready for service. In regard to calls for "39", trouble is now only experienced when the traffic is particularly heavy. Changes in operating procedure involving an increase of staff lately introduced have resulted in more expeditious answering, and the service on the whole is now reasonably satisfactory.
When does the Minister expect that the new exchange in Exchequer Street will be completed?
It will be a considerable time yet.
Can the Minister lay down what, in his judgment, is a reasonable delay in the case of the three first official numbers mentioned? On a former occasion, the Minister's predecessor—the present Minister for Justice —laid down that 15 minutes was a reasonable period of delay in the case of a trunk call. That dictum had a very salutary effect when I think of how often the bell had to be rung before the Post Office answered "0, 30 or 31." On more occasions than one, it had to be rung 21 times before the officials answered me. If the Minister would say that it should not be rung more than ten times or eight times, then we would have some grounds to make specific complaints when, on several occasions, the operators had failed to respond within the time limit set by him. Can the Minister lay down any criterion?
It would not be satisfactory if I were to attempt to do so now. I will look into the matter.