Vol. 209 No. 6
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether his attention has been drawn to reports that on the occasion of a recent fire at Drawbridge Street, Cork in which a woman lost her life members of the public and Gardaí who dialled the number for such emergencies, viz., 999 got no reply; if he has investigated the matter; and if he will make a statement.
25.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make a statement on the failure of the 999 telephone emergency call system to operate on the occasion of a fire in Drawbridge Street, Cork, on the night of 23rd April, in which a citizen lost her life.
With your permission, A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
The emergency calls in question were not received at the exchange. From the information available to the Department, it would appear that they were attempted at and shortly before 12.20 a.m. Calls on the 999 system had been received at 9.21 p.m., 10.08 p.m., 11.30 p.m. and 11.36 p.m., and further calls were received at 12.34 a.m. and 12.36 a.m. It is, therefore, established that the system was functioning normally both shortly before and shortly after the time of the unsuccessful attempts.
At 2.0 a.m. it was found that a mechanical fault had developed on part of the apparatus. The fault was cleared immediately.
There is no way of knowing whether the mechanical defect existed at 12.20 a.m. If it did, it would not by itself have prevented emergency signals being received and answered. If the defect did not exist, the system could still have been rendered temporarily ineffective by callers dialling 999 and then leaving the receivers off the rests, thus producing an engaged condition on the emergency circuits. It is unfortunately the case that the 999 system is seriously abused by members of the public, particularly at night, and that the great majority of emergency calls received are bogus.
There is no question of failure to answer immediately any 999 signals received at the exchange. Emergency calls set off a hooter in the switchroom as well as lighting special calling lamps.
