asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the extension of equipment in Midleton telephone exchange will be undertaken; if he is aware of the frequent difficulty in making outgoing calls owing to the inadequate trunk lines; and what steps are being taken to relieve the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Midleton (Cork) Telephone Exchange.
123.
An extension of the exchange equipment at Midleton to cater for additional subscribers is expected to be completed within the next three months. The number of trunk lines between Midleton and Cork was increased substantially last July and no reports have been received since then of frequent difficulty in making outgoing calls from Midleton.
I have made many complaints personally to the exchange at Cork about the inadequate trunk lines. In fact, one must often spend at least ten minutes in dialling a number in Cork at the moment.
I would be pleased if the Deputy would give me some indication as to the number of times he has made such calls. Possibly he has not got individual records of the times he made complaints. My information is that there has been no complaints of difficulty in getting calls since July last. More improvements are to be carried out over the next three months. Perhaps the Deputy would give me particulars of instances where he made complaints and I will be only too happy to follow them up.
I will write to the Minister.