asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applicants for telephones in Walkinstown, Dublin ; and when they are likely to be provided with service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Applications.
41.
The number is 69 and provision of service to all of them is at present in hands.
42.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications for telephones in each of the past three years; and when he expects to clear the applications.
The information requested in the first part of the question is as follows: 1962-63, 15,682 ; 1963-64, 17,008 ; and 1964-65, 14,486. Of the total of 47,176, the number outstanding on 31st March last was 13,261, including 2,707 in course of installation.
In regard to the clearance of the cases still outstanding, it is planned to offer service within the current financial year to all the pre-1964 applicants and the majority of the later applicants.
43.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs how many outstanding applications for telephone service there are at present in the Cabra and Finglas areas, Dublin ; and at what date he expects these applicants to receive telephone service.
The numbers are 196 and 477 respectively. It is planned to clear the great majority of these applications in the current year.
44.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs what order of priority is observed by his Department when allocating telephone service to applicants.
The general rule is that if an application falls into one of the approved priority categories, arrangements are made immediately for provision of service. If priority is not warranted the application is deferred pending the next general clearance in the area.
There are at present some exceptions to this rule. In certain districts the work position is sufficiently advanced to enable service to be given on demand to all applicants. On the other hand, there are a few areas where cases which would ordinarily be given priority are subject to some delay because of temporary shortages in local equipment. Also, there is in each district a relatively small number of old applications which have had to be deferred because the construction work that would be involved in dealing with them is abnormal.
Would the Minister indicate how priority is determined?
As one would normally expect, cases in which the telephone is of vital importance are given No. 1 priority. Doctors, clergymen, fire brigades, lifeboat services—all those are No. 1. After that, cases of business people, people to whom the telephone is essential for the success of their business, people who give employment, people who occupy important positions in the economic life of the country, and Deputies and Senators.
I have known cases, and I am sure the Minister is aware of them, where people have not been able to get a telephone service in the Finglas area.
As I stated in my reply, if the Deputy had been listening, there are some exceptions. There are cases where we must wait until certain additional facilities such as underground cable are provided. That has been part of the difficulty in that particular area.
This is a case where there are telephones on the same road but it seems we do not dig with the right foot.
That is not an argument. There might be more telephones attached to the exchange than can be accommodated but a new system is being constructed in that area, and when it is completed, all the outstanding applications will be attended to.
I shall give the Minister the particulars.
45.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs how many outstanding applications for telephone service there are at present in (a) Limerick city and (b) Limerick county; and at what date he expects these applicants to receive service.
The numbers are: (a) 256 and (b) 195, including 52 and 65 respectively which are in the course of being cleared.
A substantial clearance of the deferred applications in Limerick city will be arranged when additional exchange equipment is installed in a few months' time.
In regard to Limerick county, it is planned to offer service to all pre- 1965 applicants, as well as to as many as possible of the later applicants, within the current financial year.