(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of subscribers whose names and numbers have been omitted from the 1977 Telephone Directory.
6.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Directory.
5.
(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a supplementary list has been issued of subscribers omitted from the 1977 Telephone Directory.
(Cavan)(for the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs): I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. About 70 entries have been omitted from Part 1 of the 1977 Telephone Directory. A supplementary list of these entries has not been issued to subscribers generally.
(Dublin Central): Does the Minister know how many have been omitted from Part 2?
(Cavan): I have not that information. As far as I know Part 2 has not been distributed yet.
(Dublin Central): Could the Minister give any classification of the type of people who have been omitted?
(Cavan): I have not that information either. There have been omissions from telephone directories each year since they were first compiled. They are probably slightly higher this year than in other years. Some of the reasons for that is that there was a new contractor and a computerised system was used. The Department of Posts and Telegraphs have offered to communicate with any subscribers who have been omitted and to facilitate them, by informing their regular callers of the omission.
(Dublin Central): Is the Minister aware that quite a number of business and professional people have been omitted from the directory? Does the Minister realise the serious financial losses that this will give rise to if a supplementary list is not circulated? I have had representations from medical practitioners and other professional people in relation to this.
(Cavan): I am aware that 70 names have been omitted. That is very much regretted by the Minister and the Department, but these omissions have occurred from time to time. The Department have never issued a supplementary list of names omitted from the directory. The British Post Office do not issue one either. Experience here has shown that even when the supplementary list of entries received too late to include them in the body of the directory is printed it is not really helpful.
(Dublin Central): I am not referring to new names which have been submitted. I am referring to people who have been long established and who find that on this occasion their names are not in the Telephone Directory. They have established a practice at a certain address and they will undoubtedly have great financial losses as a result of the omissions.
That point has already been made.
(Dublin Central): In fairness to these people the Minister should issue a supplementary list.
We are having repetition.
(Cavan): The Department's experience is that a supplementary list is not helpful. The Department have offered to each of the subscribers whose name was omitted, and who is prepared to give them a list of people who ring them up regularly, to notify people on that list of the omission and to give them the number.
(Dublin Central): Arising further from the Minister's reply——
I will allow a final supplementary question. I want to get on to other questions.
(Dublin Central): I am fully aware of what the Department intend to do. However, we must realise that, where a professional man has established a practice at a certain address, if a customer or patient notes that he is not on the directory, he will take for granted that the man has left that address or has gone out of practice. That will not solve the problem for people who have written to me.
(Cavan): Previous experience has proved that a supplementary list is not helpful. When people refer to the main directory and do not get the name of the subscriber they are seeking, they ring up telephone inquiries. That has been the experience in the past.
Next question, please.
(Dublin Central): Surely some consideration must be given to these subscribers.
Question No. 7 please.
(Dublin Central): This has very serious consequences for people whose business is being destroyed.
I have given the Deputy every latitude.
(Dublin Central): That is not the point.
Order. Next question.