asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in what areas of Dublin city it is at present possible to receive telephone service on application; in what areas applications for service are deferred for indefinite delay before service is provided; and when his Department plan to be able to provide service in all areas in Dublin city without having recourse to the system of deferring applications for a delay of an indefinite period.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Applicants.
43.
Priority applications for telephones in Dublin City are generally met on request in all areas.
Non-priority applications are met on request in the Nutley and Walkinstown exchange areas and in parts of the exchange areas of Ballsbridge, Clontarf, Crown Alley, North Main, Rathmines and Ship Street.
In all other areas applications have to be deferred.
Work on underground cabling schemes and the provision of new or extended exchanges is in progress with a view to clearing all applications as quickly as possible. It is expected that telephones will be available on demand in the Finglas, Sutton, Terenure and Whitehall areas and in the remainder of the Crown Alley area within 12 months. I am unable to say at this stage when all applications can be met on request in the remaining localities.
A right job for a lot of runners there.
44.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in what areas in County Dublin at present applicants for telephone service have their applications deferred for an indefinite period of delay; in what areas such applications are deferred for a definite delay of more than one month, stating for each area the delay involved; and what plans his Department have for eliminating such delays.
Non-priority applications for telephone service from all parts of County Dublin are deferred for an indefinite period exceeding one month except those from the following areas: Bancroft Estate (Tallaght), Blackrock, Booterstown, Deansgrange, Foxrock, Malahide, Monkstown, Mount Merrion, Stillorgan and part of Walkinstown. The likely delay to applications which are deferred cannot be stated precisely at this stage but as work on the extension of exchanges and the provision of necessary cables is being pushed forward as rapidly as possible the majority of existing applicants should have service next year.
What time next year, would the Minister tell us?
Within the 12 months —next year.
Maybe next Christmas 12 months.
45.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state exactly what classes of applicants for telephone service at present receive priority in obtaining service in areas where there is some delay in providing telephone service; and if he will state fully the reasons for all such priorities.
Priority is afforded to humanitarian and emergency services, for example, hospital, fire and ambulance services, doctors, clergymen, nurses, veterinary surgeons.
Priority is also given to existing subscribers removing to new addresses and to various public services and private or public businesses or professions where substantial and urgent use of the telephone is essential to the conduct of business or to the maintenance of employment. Examples are: Government and local authorities, public utilities, transport organisations, building contractors (who afford considerable employment), hotels, cooperative societies, taxi services, journalists and solicitors.
The overriding consideration in determining the allowance of priority to applicants for service is the public interest or the existence of strong humanitarian or compassionate grounds.