asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange to provide a public telephone kiosk at Kinaff Cross Swinford, County Mayo.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
44.
Provisions of kiosks in areas such as Kinaff Cross where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended rural kiosk programme.
45.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the urgent need for the erection of a telephone kiosk at Burncourt, Cahir, County Tipperary; and, if so, when it is intended to erect it.
The provision of a telephone kiosk at the place in question in replacement of the call office telephone in the local sub-post office is already planned under the extended rural kiosk programme. It is hoped that the kiosk will be erected within the next six months or so.
46.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the urgent need for a public telephone kiosk for Mount Melleray, Cappoquin, County Waterford.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Mount Melleray where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended rural kiosk programme.
47.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why Bracknagh, County Offaly, was without telephone service on April 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th, 1973; and why the service is giving so much trouble in that area.
A fault in the 20-line automatic exchange at Bracknagh interrupted service from Saturday, 14th, to Monday, 16th April. Earlier repairs were not, I regret, practicable. I am not aware that the telephone service in Bracknagh is unsatisfactory. I understand there have been few complaints. However, I shall be glad to have any particular service problem specially investigated.
48.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when Clonmel, County Tipperary, telephone exchange is to be made automatic; and when will it close as a manually operated exchange.
It is expected that Clonmel telephone exchange will be converted to automatic working by the end of this year or very early in 1974. Manual working on a reduced scale will continue for some years to cater for the needs of the smaller manual exchanges in the Clonmel area until they are converted to automatic working.
To what extent will the present staff be affected by the changeover.
I do not seem to have that information here. If the Deputy puts down a question I shall certainly get the information for him.
49.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when direct telephone dialling to Europe and North America will be introduced.
When the new international exchange in Dublin is opened for service about the end of this year or early next year, operators in the new exchange will be able to dial directly to subscribers with automatic telephones in Western European countries and in the USA and Canada. It is expected that subscribers with non-coinbox telephones in the "01" area will be provided with facilities for direct dialling to certain large cities in Western Europe, the USA and Canada in the course of the following year.
50.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if priority will be given to applications for telephones from home assistance officers.
Priority is given to such applications when they are made by the health board concerned and the board is prepared to rent the telephone.
51.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give priority to applications for telephones from old age pensioners who are living alone.
Special attention is accorded to orders for telephones from persons living alone or in an isolated area, who, it is clear, suffer from an illness likely to necessitate urgent medical attention. The question of extending these special arrangements to other old age pensioners residing alone has not previously been considered but I am having the matter examined.