asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (i) whether people living in the country at some distance from towns are entitled to have a telephone installed; (ii) the radius from the nearest exchange within which applicants are entitled to be considered; (iii) the proportion of the cost of the necessary poles, wires, installations, etc., to be borne by the applicant, and (iv) in summarised form what are the official regulations on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Installation of Telephones.
The answers to the Deputy's questions are as follows:—
(i) Persons living at a distance from an exchange receive the same consideration in regard to the provision of telephone service, as persons living near an exchange. If heavy construction work and abnormal supplies of material are required for a particular line, its provision is naturally subject to more delay than in the case of a short line.
(ii) There is no limit.
(iii) There is no installation charge for the installation of a telephone.
(iv) The regulations are briefly as follows: (a) Telephones are provided on a rental basis. Calls are, of course, charged for in addition; (b) within three miles of all exchanges with seven or more subscribers the rental is £6 10s. 0d. per annum for a business line and £5 per annum for a residence line; within three miles of smaller exchanges the rentals are higher ranging to a maximum of £15 15s. 0d. where there is only one subscriber. Outside the three mile limit extra mileage is charged at £1 5s. 0d. per furlong per annum; (c) a 5 per cent. addition is made to all rental and call charges; (d) subscribers are required to enter into an agreement for an initial period varying from one year to seven years according to circumstances. In certain cases e.g., where abnormal construction work is involved, payment of rental in advance for part of or the whole of the initial term may be required: (e) subscribers are required to make a deposit of at least £1 10s. 0d. to cover call charges. The deposit required is higher in some cases.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the number of applicants awaiting the installation of telephones on the 1st May, 1948, and the 1st of February, 1949, respectively (a) in County Mayo and (b) in the rest of the State.
The information requested is as follows:—On the 1st May, 1948, the number of applicants awaiting the installation of telephones was: (a) 108 in County Mayo; (b) 6,300 in the rest of the State. On the 1st of February, 1949, the figures were: (a) 67 in County Mayo; (b) 5,800 in the rest of the State.
I may add that 5,500 lines were installed in the State between 1st May, 1948, and 1st February, 1949, of which approximately 100 were in County Mayo, and in the whole calendar year 1948 a total of 7,000 lines were installed. New applications were, however, received during 1948 at a rate almost double the highest rate ever previously experienced.