asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service to a person (name supplied) in Edenderry, County Offaly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
21.
The delay in meeting the order in question, which was made in October, 1972, is due to the large amount of work on hand in the area, including many earlier applications for telephones. It is expected that service will be provided within the next two months. I am sorry it cannot be done sooner.
22.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone exchange in Edenderry, County Offaly, will become automatic.
It is expected to have Edenderry exchange converted to automatic working in two to three years time.
23.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction a direct telephone line between Cornamona and Leenane, County Galway.
Provision of a direct telephone line between Cornamona and Leenane would not be warranted by the number of calls made between them.
Can the Minister say what would be the cost of providing a telephone line between the two places mentioned?
I am sorry but I have not the answer to that. I am aware, though, that the number of calls between Cornmona and Leenane are about one or two per day, that these exchanges are about 14 miles apart and that to produce 14 miles of wire and the necessary number of poles in those circumstances would be rather uneconomic.
Does the Minister not know the cost?
Is the Minister saying that he has come in here to answer the question without looking at the question of cost? I am surprised at the Minister.
If developments in that area so warrant it, will the Minister consider linking the two places by a direct telephone line?
Certainly.
How is it possible for the Minister to tell the House the number of calls that would be made on a telephone line that does not exist?
The Deputy is in some error here. It is possible to make calls between Cornamona and Leenane. I am happy to say that this is so but it is not possible to make them on a direct line. I hope the Deputy understands the distinction.
I am perfectly clear on it.
The calls at present are made indirectly. There are one or two calls per day and that amount of traffic does not appear to me to justify the laying of 14 miles with wire and poles.
How can the Minister tell us how many calls might be made if there were a direct line?
I assumed that the number would not be substantially greater than the number made at present.
24.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a telephone kiosk at Cashel, Connemara, County Galway.
The call office telephone at Cashel sub-post office is not used enough to justify provision of a street kiosk at present. If the use of the telephone increases significantly the position will be reexamined.
25.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a telephone kiosk at Shanafarahaun, Finney, County Mayo.
26.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a telephone kiosk at Loughwell, Moycullen, County Galway.
27.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the present position regarding the provision of public telephone kiosks at (a) Lemybrien and (b) Kiely's Cross, County Waterford.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Question Nos. 25, 26 and 27 together. It is expected that the kiosk at Lemybrien will be provided within the next two weeks. My Department have not been providing kiosks in areas such as Shanafarahaun, Loughwell and Kiely's Cross where there is no post office and I do not propose to change the existing policy.
28.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone kiosks it is proposed to erect during the year 1973-74 in County Wexford; and where they will be located.
Six. One has already been provided at Rosslare Harbour Pier. The other five will be provided, subject to clearance of any site or wayleave difficulties, at Ballyfad, Davidstown, Kilcotty, Killena, Monamolin.
29.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the erection of a public telephone kiosk at Pollagh, Keel, Achill, County Mayo.
My Department have not been providing kiosks in areas such as Pollagh where there is no post office. I do not at present propose to change the existing policy.
Is the Minister aware that a telephone was installed in a house in this area on the understanding that the public would have access to it? The person concerned agreed kindly to this arrangement but the position at the moment is that the service is not available to the public. In view of the fact that these people had what might be regarded as a public telephone in their area, would the Minister be prepared to reconsider his decision in this regard?
I would be happy to consider any representations the Deputy might make to me about special circumstances arising in this area but, as he will understand, I cannot make any promise on this.
30.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that a company (name supplied) in Dublin have been seeking extra telephone lines for two years and that the matter has now become so serious that it may lead to the laying-off of employees in the engineering section of this company; and if he will indicate when it is proposed to provide the additional lines.
The company in question which have six exchange lines applied for two to three extra lines in April-May, 1972. Owing to shortage of exchange equipment in the exchange concerned and cabling difficulties, applications for new lines in the area have been subject to restrictions. In the light of recent representations from the firm, two extra lines will be provided shortly.
31.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the areas of County Wexford not yet served by automatic dial telephones; and the proposals his Department has in respect of these areas.
There are at present 12 exchange areas in County Wexford which do not have automatic service. Of these it is expected that Ballymoney, Ballymurn, Bridgetown, Cleariestown, Curracloe, Murrintown, Oylgate, Taghmon and Tomhaggard will be converted to automatic working about the end of 1974. A firm forecast for the conversion of the remaining three exchanges, namely Ballycanew, Ballygarrett and Hollyfort is not possible.