asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why a telephone has not been installed for a person (named supplied) in County Galway who applied in February, 1974, and was promised a quotation in January, 1977.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
19.
Terms have now been quoted to the applicant and the telephone will be installed within about three months of the agreement being completed.
When the promise of a quotation by January, 1977, was made it had been expected that it would be possible to provide service by about April or May. I regret that this did not prove to be practicable because work already programmed took longer to complete than had been anticipated.
I have received notice that this man would be quoted within three weeks terms for the installation of the telephone but I got notice also in October last that he would be quoted in January. However, can the Minister say why the delay has occurred in this case having regard to the fact that since this application was made seven telephones have been installed in the area? Would the Minister agree that since the man who is living in an isolated area has a child who is subject to becoming ill suddenly, requiring him to have medical attention, the case should be treated with priority? The man concerned is very annoyed that he should be left waiting while other people in the area were accommodated. I trust that the three weeks delay we are being told of now will not turn out to be a six months delay.
I understand the Deputy's concern and I regret the delay that occurred in this case. It was longer than expected. This was due to the fact that a certain volume of engineering work in the area took longer than anticipated. This work concerned mainly the provision of service for applicants who had applied in 1972 and in 1973 and where the linework involved was abnormal. Diversion of construction staff to repair work necessitated by abnormal weather conditions also adversely affected the construction work programme but the Deputy may rest assured that the service will be provided.
Will the Minister "make"The Sunday Press for that?
I am not responsible for The Sunday Press.
The Minister has his man there.
Is the Minister aware that, although this man had applied for service as long ago as 1974, people who applied only within the past 12 months have been facilitated?
The Deputy was informed that my Department did not consider the circumstances in this case to be sufficiently exceptional to warrant priority treatment. Reasons were given as to why the case should be given priority but it was the view of the Department that priority was not warranted. The Deputy is aware of the conditions under which priority is warranted. However, a quotation has been issued and the work will go ahead now.
Is the Minister aware that——
We must move ahead. I am calling Question No. 20.
——some people in this area have been facilitated on foot of applications made only 12 months previously?
I would take it that any telephones that were installed in advance of this one were installed because there were clear cases for priority as is granted, for example, to doctors, clergy, businesses employing a certain number of people and so on. I think the Deputy and the House generally understands the need for a priority system.
20.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of people awaiting telephones in the Tallaght, Springfield, Firhouse and Kilnamanagh areas of County Dublin; and when service will be provided for these applicants.
About 1,100. It is expected to attend to about 560 of these during 1977 and the remainder during 1978.