asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if in the interests of economy he will consider issuing telephone directories every second year and a supplementary directory every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Directories.
40.
Prospective savings to be secured in the manner suggested would have to be weighed against offsetting costs on the one hand and the difficulties and inconvenience for telephone users and exchange operators on the other. The number of new and changed entries in the 1975 directory amounted to 84,000 and represented over 30 per cent of total entries. It would not be satisfactory to print a separate supplement as the Department's experience is that most people would use the number appearing in the main directory in the first instance and a large proportion who failed to get the number would ring the exchange. An abnormal increase in telephone directory inquiries would require extra staff and equipment in some exchanges and would add to overloading where it exists. In the conditions obtaining it is considered that adoption of the Deputy's suggestion would not result in any real economy and, indeed, the contrary is the case.
41.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the estimated cost of delivering the telephone directory (b) the cost of delivering the copies of the Golden Pages and (c) why the Golden Pages is delivered to householders.
(a) About £23,000 in 1975. (b) About £17,000 in 1975. (c) The arrangement in question is one of the conditions of the contract for the production of the directory. The contractor pays an annual royalty for the benefits he obtains under the contract.
Would the Minister tell the House why the Telephone Directory and Golden Pages are not delivered together?
They are supplied by separate systems and I believe it would be technically difficult to provide them on the basis suggested by the Deputy. However, I shall look into the matter.
It seems to be an enormous cost.