asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications at present on hands for telephone service from residents in County Kildare; the number of cases in which service has been provided since 1st December 1961; and when service will be provided in the remaining cases.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Telephone Applications.
29.
The answers to the first and second parts of the question are about 220 and 80 respectively. It is hoped that the bulk of the waiting applicants in question will be cleared within a year.
Is there any question of further staff to expedite the installation of telephones?
It is not a question of staff but of providing the network to carry the traffic. The primary need of the moment is the provision of additional trunks. By the end of this financial year it is hoped the Engineering Branch of the Post Office will be in a position to tackle the outstanding applications in a very vigorous manner.
There is a very big backlog of applications for connection——
There is need for trunk work also. It is essential that this be done before large numbers of additional subscribers are taken on.