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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1963

Vol. 203 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Telephone Delays.

75.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of operators at the Dublin telephone exchange answering to 31, 39 and 10 calls on the 1st June in 1959, 1961 and 1963; if he will explain the reason for the increased delay, before answering, which callers are experiencing in the Dublin area.

The numbers of operators on the positions in question were as follows:

Friday, 1st June, 1961

156

Friday, 31st May, 1963

199

Saturday, 1st June, 1963

155

Traffic on Saturday is much lower than on other weekdays and staff is adjusted accordingly. I have given the figure for Friday, 31st May, 1963, lest that for 1st June might be misleading in relation to the question.

The figure for 1959 is not now available.

The delay in answering that is being met by callers is due to congestion of the equipment caused by very heavy traffic. The provision of additional equipment is being pressed forward as much as possible.

76.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that a Dublin subscriber (telephone number 77224) telephoned 10 at 5.35 p.m. on 4th June, 1963, and received no reply before 5.40 p.m., at which time the ringing tone ceased; that the subscriber thereupon replaced the receiver and dialled 10 again; and that, as he did not receive any reply, he replaced the receiver at 5.55 p.m.; and if, as the experience of that subscriber appears to be a frequent and growing occurrence in the Dublin area, he will make a statement on the matter.

77.

Mr. Ryan

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that a Dublin subscriber (telephone number 893187) was unable to get a reply from 10 or 31 on 31st May, 1963, notwithstanding the fact that he waited for over 15 minutes on a number of occasions for such a reply; and if, as the experience of that subscriber appears to be a frequent and growing occurrence in the Dublin area, he will make a statement on the matter.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.

I have no information about the particular incidents mentioned by the Deputy but on the dates in question and generally over the past fortnight telephone traffic was exceptionally heavy and there was serious congestion on most telephone routes. Operators generally experienced difficulty in disposing of traffic and as a result were unable to attend promptly to all calling signals.

Is the Minister aware of the fantastic situation that is developing in Dublin at present, in which it is quite common, when you dial 10, that the bell will ring from 30 to 40 times without anyone answering at all? Can no steps be taken to get somebody to answer and say there is a delay or give some explanation?

The difficulties which are now being experienced are due mainly to the fact that the existing system is not able to cater fully for the volume of traffic arising during the peak periods and I have taken all the steps open to me to take since I became Minister. Major trunk schemes to the value of £2 million are already in progress and we must wait further before we find the result of the plans that have been made and are at present being executed to relieve the pressure on our telephone system.

Could not the present exasperating situation be in some measure relieved by increasing the personnel attending to 10? It is not so bad if you are answered and told that there is half an hour's delay or an hour's delay. At least you know where you are, but what is absolutely maddening is to be left sitting there listening to 10 ringing 40 times and then to ring 31 and fail to get any answer at all. It appears to be a shortage of staff that is the cause of this.

It is no shortage of staff at all. It is a question of the equipment being inadequate to deal with the traffic. With regard to Dublin and peak periods, people will have to wait until relief is provided on the trunk network. It will be a considerable time before it is completed. It is not a question of an inadequacy of staff at all.

Is late on Sunday night a peak period——

Relatively, it could be.

——because the delays on Sunday nights are considerable?

If the dialling tone can be heard, surely nothing but a shortage of staff prevents the phone from being answered?

I am assured by the people competent to deal with this matter that it is not a question of shortage of staff. I am not a technician, any more than is the Deputy. I have inquired fully into this matter in the Department and I am assured it is not a question of inadequacy of staff.

I do not think it is fair of the Minister to say that he is not a technician any more than I am or, so far as I know, is anybody in the House. If the phone rings, surely the only thing that stops it from being answered is that there is nobody there to do so?

Not at all.

Could the Minister publish a list of the peak times so that people concerned could, as a result of seeing that list, put calls through, in so far as possible, at non-peak times?

I shall see if that can be done.

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