asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs on what date it was announced that new telephone subscribers would have to pay advance rental charges for service; if he will give details of these charges; and the reason for the introduction of such charges at this point.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Advance Telephone Rental Charges.
66.
The advance payment regulation came into force on 10th August, 1965. Applicants affected were notified of it at the time service was being offered them, and a general public announcement was made on 13th September when the national newspapers resumed publication after the printing strike.
The amount payable is the standard rental for the initial term of the telephone agreement which varies from one year to five years according to the location of the applicant's premises. In exceptional cases, where the cost of providing service is abnormally high, the period of the agreement may be extended to seven years.
The decision to collect rental in advance was made in order to limit the very considerable measures of credit allowed to telephone subscribers. It is in harmony with the policy of requiring advance payment in connection with the hiring agreements generally.
Could the Minister say if any consideration was given to people who had been on the waiting list when this scheme was being brought into operation?
These cases formed the bulk of the applications on hand. The first intimation that many of them would have had was through the notice in the press on the date to which I referred.
Does the Minister consider that those who made application should have to pay the advance rental just the same as those who recently applied? Would the Minister admit that this was introduced for the sole reason of cutting down active applications for telephone services?
I would not agree at all that it was introduced for that purpose. It is good sound business and it is only asking people to pay the normal rental in advance and it is in accordance with ordinary deposits payable in respect of many hire purchase schemes.
(Interruptions.)
It was being operated for many years here before.
How long ago?
In the 1940s.
Has the Minister received a letter from me pointing out that a particular individual, a county council member of the Labour Party, who was refused for years, did, in fact, get service a few weeks after the charges were brought into operation and that those who applied before him or after him in the same area who were not supporters of the Labour Party but supporters of the Minister's Party were able to get service without the extra charge? Further, will the Minister say why he has not replied to that letter?
I would not be able to give full particulars of letters I received but I can assure the Deputy that there is no discrimination regarding applications, or the charge. There is no reason for it. Perhaps the answer in this case was that the subscriber had already signed his agreement.
If a telephone subscriber who has been granted a telephone pays a seven years rental in advance does he pay any rental during the subsequent years?
He pays the rental in the normal way after the seven years. It should be remembered that the seven years case represents only ½ per cent of the total.
It seems that now if you have money you can get a telephone.
This applies to cases where the installation of a telephone costs £500. I have cases in which the installation would cost over £1,000.
We know which Party they belong to because the Minister was complaining a few months ago about cases which cost £150.