asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why the sound on a phone indicating that a caller has successfully phoned an intended number is sometimes converted to an engaged signal without the call being answered; and what steps are being taken to correct such faults.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
78.
Mr. Collins
The feature referred to is not a fault. It is an arrangement incorporated in most modern automatic exchanges whereby if a call is not answered within a reasonable time the connection is automatically severed. The arrangement helps to secure maximum use of expensive switching equipment.
It is all right to talk about automatic exchanges but can this not happen by the telephonist just lifting the telephone and putting it down again or lifting the telephone and taking it off?
Hear, hear.
Does it not happen frequently? This is no reflection on the Minister's Department.
I do not fully understand Deputy O'Donovan's point.
It is quite easy. You make a phone call, you get the ordinary tone and the next thing you hear a click and the engaged signal. The Minister need not pretend that this has not happened to him.
No.
Never? They do not use phones in West Limerick. They whisper to one another down there. This is a fact and the Minister can do nothing about it.
I agree that this could happen. It has not happened to me personally. I am sorry that this should happen to Deputy O'Donovan but as he said I have really nothing whatever to do with it.
I think it has happened to anybody who uses the telephone reasonably often. I do not use it that much.
79.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) on the urgent need for improving the telephone facilities in Granard, County Longford; and if he will make a statement thereon.
The answer to the first part of the question is yes. There are adequate trunk circuits and switchboards at Granard sub-office exchange to ensure a satisfactory service for subscribers connected to it.
Complaints affecting the exchange have related mainly to late night calls. I understand that the arrangements for dealing with such calls at the sub-office have been improved. The matter is, however, still under investigation.
I regret that it is not possible to say at this stage when automatic service is likely to be provided at Granard.
I would ask the Minister to give some priority to Granard's needs because this is a small town in north County Longford which for many years was depressed and it would be of immense assistance, besides being a psychological boost to the morale of the people who are trying to raise up this town, if they could have a first-class telephone service. I would ask for his sympathetic consideration.
Granard is not included in the current automatic programme which will take about three years to complete but it will be considered as soon as the new programme is being prepared.
In the meantime, would the Minister ensure that the manual service will be kept to as efficient a standard as possible?
As I said, certain steps were taken to improve the situation there and it is being investigated again at the moment. I understand that things are now much better than they were.
I am obliged to the Minister.
80.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will instal automatic telephones at Beaufort, County Kerry.
I regret that it is not possible to say at this stage when Beaufort exchange is likely to be converted to automatic working.
81.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a telephone kiosk provided at Lismire village, County Cork.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Lismire village where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.
82.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a telephone kiosk provided at Grenagh village, County Cork.
Provision of a kiosk at Grenagh village is not considered warranted at present but one will probably be provided there towards the end of the five year programme for extension of kiosk facilities in rural areas.
83.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware of the difficulty of contacting the Department of Social Welfare by phone; and, if so, what measures, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that a proper phone service is provided.
The installation of additional equipment which will provide a fully satisfactory telephone service in the Department of Social Welfare is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. This equipment was ordered in May, 1969. It was originally expected that it would be installed before the end of last year. Because of delay on the part of the contractor the installation work did not commence until January and this work was subsequently interrupted for eight weeks from the 27th January as a result of strike action by the contractor's staff.
How many exchange lines are operating currently in the Department and how many telephonists are employed at that exchange and what will the improvement be? How many more lines are there likely to be?
I understand an additional 30 exchange lines, 100 extensions and two operating positions are being provided. This will bring the total up to 70 exchange lines, 300 extensions and 5 operating positions.
Would the Minister say that with that major improvement the prospects of contacting the Department of Social Welfare by telephone will be very much improved?
Of course they will be.
Has the Minister ever made a telephone call to his colleague there?
I have, of course.
Well he must have a direct line. Will he ask his colleague in the Department of Social Welfare if they will state what section of the Department is covered by the new telephone number which is being advertised so widely in the national newspapers, the new section of the Department in Phibsborough? Will he ask his colleague if this advertisement could be put right so as to let people know what it is for?
I will bring the Deputy's comments to the notice of the Department of Social Welfare.
How many operators are there in the Department of Social Welfare?
Three, I believe.
Is that figure going up by two—there will be five?
That is so.
It is no reflection on the three of them, but it has been quite impossible to contact the Department.
When will the position change?
In the next couple of weeks.