asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state if he has received representations from the Mountrath Development Association requesting improved telephone services for the town, and suggesting that an all-night telephone service be made available to facilitate the townspeople in urgent matters, and that a public kiosk be erected in the centre of the town for the convenience of the general public and visitors who might require the use of it; and, if so, if he will make arrangements to meet the request of the association at an early date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mountrath Telephone Service.
A request from the Mountrath Development Association for the provision of continuous telephone service and a telephone kiosk at Mountrath was received last month and the association was informed that the facilities could not be granted.
The additional expense involved in providing continuous telephone service at Mountrath would not be warranted having regard to the number of subscribers connected to the exchange and the number of calls likely to be made outside the existing hours of attendance.
Telephone kiosks are only provided at centres where there is continuous service at the exchange, as the essential feature of the street kiosk is its availability for use day and night. The provision of a kiosk at Mountrath cannot therefore be favourably considered.