asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the number of public telephones available for public use at Collinstown Airport; (b) the number of telephone points otherwise in the buildings; and (c) the number of lines servicing the airport.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Companies' Telephone Services.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the total number of public telephones available in all the buildings and offices of Aer Lingus, Teoranta, and the total number of telephone points used by this company and its associated companies, Aer Rianta Teoranta and Aerlinte Teoranta other than at Collinstown Airport.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take these two questions together. Public telephone facilities are provided at Collinstown Airport by means of coin-box telephones rented by Aer Rianta.There are no departmental public telephones in any buildings or offices of Aer Lingus Teoranta or of its associated companies. The other particulars sought in regard to the actual number of telephone points and lines are matters between the Department and the subscribers concerned and it would be contrary to departmental policy to disclose such information.
Does the Minister think that the public are sufficiently catered for with a total of four public telephone call-boxes at Collinstown? Is he aware that, on occasions when flights are cancelled, the place is teeming with hundreds of people driven frantic by not being able to communicate with their homes about the alteration in their travelling arrangements; and will he, therefore, install immediately a sufficient number of these boxes?
Hear, hear! That is right.
No such complaint has been made to me, but I will investigate the complaint which has now been made by the Deputy.
If the Minister asks for complaints he will get thousands.
"Thousands" is no word for the volume of complaints that he will get.