asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the number of complaints of interference with radio reception received in the years 1951 to 1956, inclusive, (b) the steps taken to deal with these complaints, (c) the number of staff dealing with such complaints, and (d) the number of complaints at present outstanding.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Interference with Radio Reception.
The reply to (a) (c) and (d) in the question is in tabular form and with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to circulate the table in the Official Report.
In regard to query (b)—the steps taken to deal with complaints—technical staff with vans and the necessary equipment travel continuously from centres at Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford on interference investigation and a person who makes a complaint is visited as early as practicable. It will be realised, however, that as almost every piece of electrical equipment in the country and every electric light switch is a potential source of interference it would need a huge interference organisation to be able to investigate complaints immediately on receipt. Generally an effort is made to concentrate on whole towns or other areas in which there is evidence of considerable interference and to eliminate or reduce the trouble in the areas visited. This general investigation often discloses unsuspected as well as known sources of interference and gives assistance to all the set owners in the area whether or not they have made complaints. The staff is prepared to fit suppressors at cost price but of course owners of offending apparatus can only be urged but not compelled to fit them. I am glad to say that the co-operation of the owners of electrical equipment in this matter has generally been excellent.
Following is the statement:—
(a) The number of complaints of interference with radio reception received in the years 1951 to 1956, inclusive.
|
Year |
Number of Complaints |
Year |
Number of Complaints |
|
1951 |
841 |
1954 |
1,078 |
|
1952 |
1,063 |
1955 |
1,064 |
|
1953 |
984 |
1956 |
1,272 |
(c) The number of staff dealing with such complaints.
|
Year |
Staff |
Year |
Staff |
|
1951 |
4 Technicians |
1954 |
9 Technicians |
|
and |
|||
|
1 Inspector |
|||
|
1952 |
5 Technicians |
1955 |
10 Technicians |
|
and |
|||
|
1 Inspector |
|||
|
1953 |
7 Technicians |
1956 |
10 Technicians |
|
and |
and |
||
|
1 Inspector |
1 Inspector |
(d) The number of complaints at present outstanding:—
September, 1957=1,238.
Is the Minister satisfied that the staff in the various regions is adequate to deal with complaints?
It will be understood that the staff is not all we would like it to be, but, taking all the circumstances into consideration, we feel it is the best we can do at the moment. I would point out that while the number of complaints over the past six years has averaged 1,000 per year, our staff has increased from four in 1951 to 11 in 1957.