Vol. 206 No. 8
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why a Dublin subscriber phoning 75404 on seven occasions between 12 noon and 12.20 p.m. on 5th December last obtained the engaged tone on dialling the third digit of the number; and why the supervisor was able to get the same number without difficulty.
55.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why a Dublin subscriber dialling 76811 between 4.30 and 4.40 p.m. on 5th December last obtained the engaged tone and dialling tone after dialling the first three digits on different occasions and on another occasion obtained dialling tone after dialling only two digits; and when an improvement in the equipment may be expected to avoid similar experiences in future.
56.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why a Dublin subscriber dialling 76929 between 4.5 p.m. and 4.15 p.m. on 5th December 1963 obtained the engaged tone each time he dialled the first two digits; and when steps will be taken to stop similar faults occurring in future.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 55, 56 together.
As dialled telephone calls are worked by automatic processes, it is not possible to say how the difficulties referred to by the Deputy occurred, but it is likely that they were caused either by temporary congestion or by a fault in some part of the equipment.
An exchange supervisor assisting a caller would have access to equipment other than that available to the caller.
There is a continuous process of routine testing and maintenance at automatic exchanges and improvement, replacement and extension of equipment are carried out as required.
Is the Minister aware he himself provoked these questions because he stated here quite recently that he was not aware there was any frequency in the number of these faults? Now, having regard to the fact that these three failures were experienced in a matter of hours——
When is the question coming?
It is coming now. Will the Minister have a drastic examination carried out and drastic repairs carried out to see this sort of thing does not continue?
There is a continuous programme of testing being carried out, but the automatic exchange is not a full answer to the problem the Deputy has in mind. It is not a faultless system, as the Deputy knows.
Would the Minister increase the number of examiners?
Question No. 57.
