asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the urgent need for a public telephone at Corrib Park, Galway; and if he will arrange for immediate installation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
35.
Provision of a kiosk in the Corrib Park area has already been approved. It will be provided as early as practicable subject to any wayleave or other difficulties.
36.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone extension will be installed for a person (name supplied) in Athlone, County Westmeath; and if he is aware of the urgency in this case.
The telephone extension which was ordered on 18th April, 1973, was provided on 29th May.
37.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a telephone will be provided for a person (name supplied) at Newcastle, County Dublin, who made application some three or four years ago.
It is expected that terms will be quoted in this case in about a month's time. The telephone will be installed as soon as possible after the agreement is completed. The long delay in this case, and in some other cases in the area, was due to difficulties which arose in the provision of cable. I should like to express my regret to the people concerned.
38.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate when a telephone will be installed for a person (name supplied) of Boyerstown, Navan, County Meath, as it is three months since he paid his subscription.
It is expected that a telephone will be provided at the address mentioned within the next two weeks.
In view of the fact that this person paid the money three months ago is it not an undue delay that he will have to wait another two weeks? This person also has a small factory and for this reason I feel he should be facilitated.
If it could be done quicker than two weeks I would certainly be glad to do it. The delay is, unfortunately, not unusual as Deputies are well aware. I feel that it is reasonably satisfactory that it will be done within two weeks.
39.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a public telephone kiosk at Knockmore, Ballina, County Mayo.
Provision of a kiosk at Knockmore is not proposed under the rural kiosk programme for the current financial year but it is probable that it will be included in the programme for the next year.
If the parish council there could persuade the postmistress to permit the moving of the kiosk from inside the post office to a situation nearer the church would the Minister consider erecting the kiosk there?
This appears to be a separate question. However, I will be glad to consider any representation by local people in a case of this kind.
40.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a public telephone at Carrowmore, Killaser, Swinford, County Mayo.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Carrowmore where there is no post office is not envisaged under the present rural kiosk programme.
41.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a public telephone kiosk at Sraheen, Foxford, County Mayo.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Sraheen where there is no post office is not envisaged under the present rural kiosk programme.
42.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a public telephone kiosk at Meelick, Swinford, County Mayo.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Meelick where there is no post office is not envisaged under the present rural kiosk programme.
Would the Minister indicate why this is so and whether the people in rural areas, in the near future, will get these facilities which are commonplace in the urban areas?
The policy regarding the provision of kiosks in rural areas was established under the previous Government and has been functioning for some time. I have an open mind on the question of review. It is a question, as usual, of allocating relatively scarce resources according to priorities. So far I have no reason to think that there are strong grounds for a change in the present rules of priority which were applied by the previous Government to the satisfaction of the Deputy.
Would the Minister inform the House if rural areas will get these facilities in the near future?
We cannot resolve this problem today. This is more appropriate to the Estimate.
I should like the Minister to inform the House whether he will pursue this question and see if he can allocate a certain percentage of this money for kiosks in rural areas. There is a need for such kiosks in my constituency and in most rural constituencies.
There are other questions on the Order Paper concerning kiosks and some of the matters which the Deputy is concerned about arise under them. The Deputy is free to approach me, either directly or by Parliamentary Question, at any time. At present I do not see my way to changing the existing procedure. I have an open mind on this subject if a good case can be made.
Would the Minister indicate the guidelines of priorities which are adhered to in regard to these rural kiosks?
This information has been furnished with a certain amount of frequency and is on the record of the House. For the convenience of Deputies I am prepared to put it on the record again. A change in policy in regard to the provision of telephone kiosks was introduced in 1969. The practice had been that kiosks were provided only where they would pay their way and many rural areas did not qualify for kiosks. It was decided to allow a modest subsidy in the case of kiosks in rural areas and to make more rapid progress in the provision of kiosks in these areas. It was also decided that this could best be done by replacing by kiosks those call office telephones in rural sub-post offices which were used to an appreciable extent. This is the standing guideline.
As a first step the kiosk programme for the financial year 1969-70 was increased to include more rural kiosks and a five-year extended kiosk programme commencing in the financial year 1970-71 was approved in principle providing for the erection of about 150 rural kiosks on average each year as compared with 40 to 50 a year preciously. In response to further questions I shall give statistical material for the present period.