asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a public telephone kiosk, will be erected in Stamullen village, County Meath, because no public telephone is available from 6 p.m. each day until 9 a.m. in the morning and from 1 p.m. on Saturday until 9 a.m. on Monday.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Kiosk.
19.
The provision of a kiosk at Stamullen would not be justified by the use likely to be made of it. People requiring to make emergency calls outside the normal hours of opening are facilitated at the sub-office.
Would the Minister agree to tell the House how the possible use of a phone in Stamullen can be ascertained by the Department and would he also say if he can give any instance in which the sub-post office in Stamullen made available the facilities to which he has referred?
If the Deputy suggests that the answer is wrong I would be glad if he would give me some particulars. I understand that the sub-post office is available after hours and the number of calls made daily at Stamullen sub-post office—in the call office—is only about four per day. That is the reason why we were at this stage not able to provide a kiosk.
I am sure the Minister is aware that the number of calls made during the day bears no relation at all to the number of calls made at night or over weekends? Does he not appreciate that, since the sub-post office is in what can be termed a private house, the people may not be there or may not want to open the door and that then there are no facilities for phoning for the public at the time I have stated in my question? Would the Minister have another look at it?
I shall have another look at that.