asked the Minister for posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that approximately 10,000 telephones are out of order at the present time; and if he is prepared to allow a rebate on rental during the time the people concerned are without a service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Rental Rebate.
45.
The number of telephones which are faulty is 3,000 approximately. These include defects such as lines being noisy, and the number of subscribers without telephone service is substantially less.
Repairs are being carried out as quickly as possible but because of the adoption of working restrictions by the staff concerned the present arrears have accumulated.
In regard to rental rebates, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 22nd February, 1966.
Is the Minister aware that there are cases in which telephones have been out of order for as long as two months while people are being charged? Surely it is not right that that should be so? The repair service seems to be extremely unsatisfactory.
I would like the Deputy to give me particulars of any case where the telephone is out of order for two months.
I have given them to the repair department.
The one in the room of the Fine Gael whip is out of order. We have reported it 40 times in the past two months.
Most of the cases are approximately one week old.
It could be an act of God. We are tired reporting it.
In view of the considerable interference with television, perhaps the Minister—I recognise his difficulty—might ask his experts about the matter.
I am not trying to evade the question but this is a separate one.
I am merely directing the Minister's attention to it.