asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs what categories of persons are considered for preferential treatment in the installing of telephones.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
40.
Broadly, the categories are as follows:—
Members of the Oireachtas and Diplomats;
Public services including central and local authorities;
Persons engaged in health services including hospitals, doctors and district nurses;
Clergymen engaged on parochial duties;
Industrial, commercial and other undertakings providing a significant amount of employment;
Businesses and professions having particular need for telephone service, e.g. newspapers, journalists (full-time), ladies' hairdressers, solicitors, artificial insemination centres, registered hotel and guest houses, et cetera;
Existing subscribers moving to new premises;
Other applications in which really exceptional need can be shown, e.g. on health or hardship grounds.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that if the service were properly capitalised there would be no necessity for having a preferential list, that if it were given proper capital this could be an important commercial gold mine? The whole thing is being crazily run and beggars all belief in economics. It is impossible to understand what is being done.
The simple answer is that unlimited capital is not available.
When you have something that you would get a return on you might at least invest in it.
41.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average delay in provding telephone service for new subscribers in County Monaghan.
The average delay is about 12 months.
42.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why the area of County Monaghan served by Shercock telephone exchange had no public telephone service during the recent power crisis; and whether such a position was peculiar to this area alone.
Telephone service was maintained for priority lines in the area in question during the recent power cuts. In order to conserve the available power to serve these lines it was necessary to withdraw service from non-priority lines for a period not exceeding three days in any one case. This position was not peculiar to Shercock alone.