andMr. O'Higgins asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if there are any plans for an improved telephone service for the areas of Tallaght, Saggart, Brittas, Rathcoole, and Newcastle, County Dublin; and when these plans will be put into operation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
129.
The switching capacity of the system serving the Walkinstown, Clondalkin and Rathcoole exchanges is exceeded by the very heavy volume of call traffic during the morning and afternon busy periods. Considerable delay was encountered in arranging a contract for the supply and installation of the additional switching equipment required. Special arrangements were made with the contractor to have portion of this equipment installed by March of this year. This was done, but the relief afforded was rapidly offset by further growth in call traffic. Completion of installation of the main order of switching equipment, which will eliminate the present congestion, is expected by March next.
There is a further problem at Rathcoole because the exchange there, which was originally designed for low traffic use appropriate to a residential area, is overloaded. This equipment cannot be extended and pending provision of a new exchange at Rathcoole, which is expected early in 1973, new subscribers in that area will be connected temporarily with Clondalkin exchange and everything possible will be done to provide a satisfactory service for the Rathcoole subscribers.
No difficulties exist so far as the Brittas exchange is concerned.
I appreciate the Minister's view. Would the Minister not agree that the projected population of the Tallaght area over the next 15 years requires exceptional capital outlay? Its size will approximate to the size of Cork. Will the Minister assure me that adequate steps will be taken to keep the building programme in mind and to keep ahead of the projected population?
I should like to be able to give the Deputy the assurance he requires, but it is not an easy thing to do. I can guarantee that, in so far as the Department of Posts and Telegraphs are concerned, they will carefully examine the situation.
130.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the serious situation regarding the supply of telephones in Saint Kevin's Hospital; and what steps he is taking to ensure that an improved service will be provided at the earliest possible date.
A considerable amount of work has been carried out in recent months on the extensive installations serving Saint Kevin's Hospital. The provision of a number of additional exchange lines was completed on 20th October, 1970, and the existing lines were rearranged in such a way that the number available for incoming calls was increased substantially. The additions and rearrangements made should result in a much improved service.
131.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will place a public phone kiosk in Carrigalow village, County Cork.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Carrigalow village where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.
132.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the fact that there is no public telephone in Caim, County Wexford, he will have one provided as quickly as possible as the only telephone coin box is in a private house.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Caim where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.
133.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs what are the prospects of his Department erecting a public telephone at Claran crossroads, County Galway.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Claran crossroads, where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.
134.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the automatic telephone exchange system will be put into operation for the Glenville district, County Cork.
It is expected that Glenville exchange will be converted to automatic working before the end of March, 1971.
A litany: we have had three in succession.
Just those three. I am sure the Deputy knows where they came from.
135.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will introduce at an early date a continuous telephone service for the village of Hollymount, County Mayo, where 40 telephones are attached to this exchange.
The introduction of a continuous telephone service at Hollymount exchange which has 30 subscribers is not warranted at present. A number of subscribers have continuous service by means of switching to Claremorris or Ballinrobe exchanges when Hollymount is closed and it will shortly be possible to accommodate several more similarly when additional trunk circuits are provided to Hollymount.
Hollymount is seven miles from Claremorris and 6¾ miles from Ballinrobe. There is a vast farming area in that district and if people there want a veterinary surgeon or a doctor, for example, they suffer great inconvenience through lack of a continuous telephone service. Are there many areas in the country with 40 telephones which have not an all-night service?
My Department advise me that Hollymount exchange has only 30 subscribers. I understand that 16 are switched to Claremorris and Ballinrobe exchanges when Hollymount is closed.
I attended a parish council meeting a week ago at which complaints were made in this regard. I strongly urge the Minister to consider providing an all-night service in Hollymount at an early date.
136.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of widespread discontent with the telephone service in Navan and Trim exchange areas, County Meath; and if he will take remedial action urgently.
A number of complaints have been received about the telephone service at An Uaimh exchange. Owing to rapid growth in call traffic the switching equipment which serves An Uaimh and Trim automatic exchanges is inadequate during busy periods. Relief measures are already in hand. These include the installation of additional equipment which is at present in progress and which will improve the service within a few weeks.
137.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the increased number of houses at Lismore Park, Waterford city, he will reconsider the problem of telephone facilities in that area; if he will now make provisions for the erection of a public telephone kiosk at a suitable location within that estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is expected that a telephone kiosk to serve the area in question will be provided in the financial year 1971-72.
138.
(Cavan) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that there is great public demand and necessity for an all-night telephone service in Lough Gowna, County Cavan; and if he will take steps to provide same.
The introduction of an all-night telephone service at Lough Gowna exchange which has 31 subscribers is not warranted at present. A number of subscribers have continuous service by means of switching to Cavan exchange when Lough Gowna is closed and it will be possible to accommodate several more similarly in about nine months' time when additional trunk circuits are provided from Cavan to Lough Gowna.
(Cavan): Lough Gowna is a tourist area with many lakes. There is a waiting list for telephones there. If this waiting list was cleared, there would then be sufficient to qualify the exchange for continuous service. Does the Minister appreciate that this all-night service by way of common line is quite unsatisfactory. It is a nuisance in some of the houses concerned because, when a call comes to one number, every number connected with that line rings? There is also some industry in Lough Gowna.
I agree that the sharing of night lines is not satisfactory. With the finances available to me in the Department, I have to cut my cloth according to my measure. There are something like five waiting applicants and that would bring the total number of subscribers up to 36. Then we should have to consider giving the all-night service. We cannot at the moment accommodate the waiting applicants. We hope to provide additional circuits shortly.
(Cavan): When will the five applicants be likely to be connected which will then qualify the exchange for continuous service?
I have not got the information.
(Cavan): Would the Minister try to hasten the installation of these five extra telephones?
We have quite a long list of applicants for telephones. There are certain priorities. As far as possible, we have to meet those priorities. There will be no undue delay in giving telephones for the Lough Gowna area.
(Cavan): Surely a tourist area——
The Deputy is making a very good case.
139.
(Cavan) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that there is great public demand and necessity for an all-night telephone service in Kilnaleck, County Cavan; and if he will take steps to provide same.
The introduction of an all-night telephone service at Kilnaleck exchange which has 26 subscribers is not warranted at present. A number of subscribers have continuous service by means of switching to Cavan exchange when Kilnaleck is closed and several more can be similarly accommodated.
(Cavan): Some years ago the people at Kilnaleck were told that when they had 30 telephone subscribers they would get an all-night service. Shortly after that —for no apparent reason—several subscribers were transferred to another exchange, thereby downgrading Kilnaleck again. This area is practically on the shores of Lough Sheelin which is a very important place particularly in the fishing season. The arguments I put to the Minister with regard to Lough Gowna apply with equal force here.
I was not aware of what the Deputy has observed. I shall deal further with this case when I go back to my Department. If we can make an all-night service available in Kilnaleck we shall do so and, if we cannot, we cannot.
(Cavan): It seems inequitable and unjust that people serviced through exchanges such as Kilnaleck and Lough Gowna are charged the same rental as people who are given a continuous service and yet they receive only half the service. Is that not manifestly unjust?
I have told the Deputy I shall have another look at this question and, if we can meet his request, we shall do so and, if we cannot, we cannot.
(Cavan): Has the Minister any observation to make on my pointing out to him that it seems manifestly unjust that people who are given a 12-hour service are charged the same rental as people with a 24-hour service?
The question asked was if I was aware there was great public demand and necessity for an all-night telephone service in Kilnaleck, County Cavan. I told the Deputy that at the moment the introduction of an all-night telephone service to an exchange which has 26 subscribers is not warranted. A number of subscribers have continuous service by means of switching to Cavan exchange when Kilnaleck is closed. Is the Deputy anxious that these people should not pay for it?
(Cavan): No. I take it that the Minister agrees it is unjust that the people of Kilnaleck and Lough Gowna should be paying for a full service and getting only half
I cannot accept that service. the people of Kilnaleck are getting only half service.
The remaining questions will appear on next Tuesday's Order Paper.