asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make arrangements to provide telex and telephone services to a company (details supplied) in County Clare without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telex and Telephone Services.
16.
The company in question already have telephone service on two lines. Provision of the extra facilities sought will require the use of two telephone trunk circuits which are not available at present and are not likely to be provided until early in 1977. The feasibility of making temporary arrangements to meet the firm's requirements earlier is being examined and I shall communicate the result to the Deputy.
In view of the fact that this small Irish firm, which started about five years ago, have now built up to over 70 employees, would the Minister not agree that special consideration should be given to them —the telex communication facility and automatic telephone communication would possibly mean an increase to about 100 employees—particularly in light of the large unemployment figures? Is the Minister aware that automatic telephone communication is available within two miles of where this firm is based, on the Crusheen side of where they are operating?
My Department are concerned about the employment aspects, to which the Deputy has referred, and it is for this reason that the Department are at present examining the feasibility of providing temporary circuits in the area. The Deputy is aware, I believe, of the technical difficulties involved. If this can be arranged it may be possible to meet the firm's requirements by about mid-1976. I shall keep in contact with the Deputy about the problem.
Is the Minister aware that the two lines now operating operate through a small telephone exchange at Tubber and it is very unsatisfactory from the firm's point of view? Would the Minister at least provide automatic service, regardless of telex service, to this firm in an effort to let them expand further even before the middle of 1976? It is imperative that they should have it.
I think the Deputy is aware of the problem. They are connected to Tubber exchange, which is a small manual exchange, as the Deputy said. They want to be connected by out of area telephone line to Ennis exchange. This would require the erection of 1, 5/8th miles of new pole route between the premises concerned and a point about a mile from Crusheen exchange. It is proposed now to erect an aerial cable between Tubber and Gort exchanges to replace the existing open wire circuits. Circuits in this cable will be extended to Galway allowing provision of an out of area telephone line and also telex services. However, this aerial cable is unlikely to be in service until early 1977 and it is for this reason that the feasibility of providing temporary service is now being examined.