asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is proposed to improve the telephone service in the Inishowen area of County Donegal and particularly the Buncrana area where the position has become almost impossible.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
513.
Service in the area generally has, I regret, been severely affected by delays, due to industrial action, in attending to faults on trunk circuits.
As regards Buncrana, arrangements are in hand to establish a departmentally staffed manual exchange there because the accommodation in the existing sub-office exchange is insufficient for the number of switchboards now required. A prefabricated building to accommodate the switchboards has been delivered and work on installing the switchboards is in progress. Before the new manual exchange can be brought into service certain associated equipment must be installed in a new building being erected at Buncrana for an automatic exchange. There has been delay by the contractor in completing this building but the Commissioners of Public Works are hopeful that the work will be finished within about three months. The new manual exchange will be brought into service within a further three months or so. It should improve the service significantly in Buncrana.
514.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the Castlejordan telephone exchange, County Meath, will be converted to automatic working.
In about three years.