asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the present adjustment in coin telephone boxes by his Department; the cost of such adjustment; and if the present adjustment will be suitable for the currency in use after 15th February, 1971.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Coin Telephone Boxes.
113.
It was announced in December, 1968, that the charge for local calls from coinbox and public telephones would be increased from 4d to 6d when the mechanism of coinboxes had been suitably modified to take 6d pieces. This work is now in progress. The cost of the modification will be approximately £40,000. Further adjustment will be necessary to enable telephone coinboxes to take the new decimal coinage after 15th February, 1971, because the new bronze coins which will not be issued before that date will differ in size from the present 6d and 1d coins. During the period when this adjustment is in hands the present sixpenny and penny coins will still be in circulation and they will continue to be required for coinboxes awaiting adjustment.