asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will sanction the provision of a public telephone at Kingstown, Clifden, County Galway, to ensure the continuance of a public telephone service following the closure of Kingstown post office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Telephone Kiosk.
38.
Kiosks are not being provided in rural areas such as Kingstown, Clifden, County Galway, where there is no post office. The former call office telephone there was little used.
Is the Minister aware that the Inisturbot islanders land at and take off from shore near Kingstown and the withdrawal of a public telephone service is causing the islanders serious inconvenience as they now have no way of making contact from the mainland, which is very often necessary in bad weather, and, since the telephone has been withdrawn in Kingstown, it is now necessary for them to walk back into Clifden, which is quite a number of miles away and quite a long walk, and, in those circumstances would the Minister not consider changing his mind?
It would be very difficult for me to change my mind remembering that the call office telephone hitherto provided was very little used. When I say that I am by no means exaggerating. The revenue for the year ending 31st March, 1973, was only £18 for the entire year and I do not think my Department could provide a call office telephone on the basis of that kind of return. Indeed, I do not think it ever was the practice to provide telephones in such circumstances. I know that residents in thinly populated areas suffer inconvenience but I am afraid that inconvenience is inevitable.
I am surprised at the Minister's materialistic criteria. Would the Minister review his decision in this and take into consideration the humanitarian aspect? Surely the Minister has in his heart some sympathy for the hardship suffered by people living on offshore islands. Removing this service removes something which was very necessary in emergencies and in bad weather conditions.
I do not think my Department can undertake to provide a kiosk under such conditions. The Deputy will be aware of the procedure whereby kiosks can be provided under guarantee against loss by the local authority and, if there is strong feeling in the area, then that procedure should be availed of.
Is it the policy——
I have given the Deputy quite some latitude. One final supplementary now.
Is it the policy of the Minister now to place the responsibility for the provision of telephone kiosks on the local authority rather than on the Department of Posts and Telegraphs of which he is the Minister?
No, it is not. In proof that it is not, 205 kiosks were provided in 1973-1974 as against 154 provided in 1971-1972. That is definite proof that the Administration is not negligent in its duties in this regard and does not require lessons in humanitarianism or in anything else from Deputy Molloy.