asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs how many applications for installation of telephones are outstanding for more than one month in respect of each administrative county in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Applications.
88.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate the information sought in the form of a tabular statement with the Official Report. The numbers given are approximate figures because exchange area boundaries do not correspond exactly with county boundaries and, moreover, the numbers are changing from day to day.
Following is the statement:—
WAITING Applications for Telephones outstanding more than a month on 28-2-1962.
|
County |
Number of waiting applications |
County |
Number of waiting applications |
|
(approximate) |
(approximate) |
||
|
Carlow |
90 |
Louth |
150 |
|
Cavan |
80 |
Mayo |
210 |
|
Clare |
100 |
Meath |
210 |
|
Cork |
840 |
Monaghan |
110 |
|
Donegal |
300 |
Offaly |
80 |
|
Dublin |
3,630 |
Roscommon |
90 |
|
Galway |
340 |
Sligo |
100 |
|
Kerry |
150 |
Tipperary |
280 |
|
Kildare |
190 |
Waterford |
190 |
|
Kilkenny |
150 |
Westmeath |
200 |
|
Leitrim |
40 |
Wexford |
160 |
|
Leix |
50 |
Wicklow |
300 |
|
Limerick |
320 |
||
|
Longford |
50 |
||
|
Total |
8,410 |
Is the Minister aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in many parts of the country owing to the extremely protracted delay in installing telephones? What good reason can there be for withholding telephones from people who are ready and willing to pay for them and to contribute to the revenue of the telephone service by using a telephone?
That supplementary question is not altogether relevant to the main question. Nevertheless, I shall answer it.
It is very relevant.
I am very much aware of the anxiety in the country in regard to delay in providing connection. I am also aware that the telephone system is just about capable of carrying the amount of traffic on it at the moment. I have directed the Engineering Branch of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to bend their energies towards the task of improving the trunk network system so that we will be in a position to give an efficient service to our present telephone subscribers and to the people awaiting connection. At the same time, we hope to continue to take in new subscribers to the system as fast as we possibly can in the circumstances. The whole programme must be related to the limitation of capital imposed upon the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Surely, if there is an opportunity of using capital which will finance itself and if the telephone service is earning a substantial profit, as it is, it is folly not to anticipate the expanding demand and to allow this build-up of arrears to occur year after year? When will the Post Office anticipate demand?
That is exactly what I am doing. I am anticipating the demand that is coming by providing a system which will give telephone subscribers an efficient service. It would be folly to continue at an accelerated pace taking in new subscribers and not be in a position to give them the service they thought they would get when they got the telephone.
People in Monaghan cannot get a telephone.
Shortage of capital was one of the causes mentioned. How can the Minister explain the answer given in this House on another occasion that there was a shortage of equipment, that it was impossible to get equipment to meet the programme?
You cannot buy equipment without having the capital to pay for it. There was a cut in the capital made available to the Post Office in 1956.
That was six years ago.
The Minister said there was plenty of money, plenty of capital.
Does the Minister want a Supplementary Estimate?