asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total number of applications for telephone service in County Sligo; and how soon it is expected connections will be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
10.
About 280. Of these, 90 are expected to be connected within the next two to three months, a further 50 later this year and the balance progressively in 1977 and 1978.
11.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why some applicants for telephones in the Finglas area, Dublin, are obliged to wait for periods in excess of three years.
The applications referred to have not been attended to earlier because mainly of delays in extending the exchange building to take extra equipment and in installing the equipment. The new equipment has been ready for some months but the work of clearing the waiting applications has, unfortunately, been held up by industrial action taken by the exchange staff. I hope it may be possible to give service to most of the waiting applicants in question over the coming months.
I am glad to hear that from the Minister. Will he indicate if the delay in this area is greater than that in any other part of the city?
I believe it is. Unfortunately, the industrial dispute in question is still on. We are very concerned about the situation at the Finglas Exchange and efforts are being made at present to resolve the dispute in question. I am sure the Deputy will agree with me in hoping for an early end to the dispute. Then we can get on with clearing the waiting list.
I accept what the Minister has said. Is the Minister indicating the sole reason for the delay arises from the industrial dispute in question?
No. I did not mean that the sole reason for the delay was the industrial dispute. There were two reasons for the delay: one was the delay in completing the building and the secondary one was a dispute which then broke out after completion of the building and which is still continuing.
I hope it is not the policy of the Department that in regard to servicing areas which might be regarded as local authority areas where the volume of applications would not compare with those in a higher priced housing area this is not a consideration.
I can assure the Deputy and the House that it is not a consideration.
(Dublin Central): Will the Minister give an indication of the background of the industrial dispute?
That is a separate matter.
I hope the Deputy will not attempt to press a question regarding an industrial dispute of this character. We all want this dispute to be ended. I am in hopes that it may be ended shortly, although I cannot promise any such thing. I would not like any statements to be made here which might encourage the protraction of this dispute and I hope the Deputy will agree with me on that.