asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is estimated that the following exchanges in County Mayo will become either semi-automatic or automatic exchanges: Westport exchange; Newport exchange; Louisburgh exchange, Islandeady PO, Castlebar; Killyvally PO, Westport; Ballykeane PO, Castlebar; Ballintubber PO, Castlebar; Bally-varry PO, Castlebar; Partry PO, Claremorris; and Parke PO, Castlebar.
Written Answers. - Mayo Telephone Exchanges.
489.
It is expected that Newport exchange will be converted to automatic working next year and Westport exchange, which serves Killyvally, the following year. Islandeady and Parke are already served by Castlebar automatic exchange. Semi-automatic facilities are available at Ballyvary exchange, that is, the operators there can dial calls on behalf of subscribers into the automatic system. It is not possible to give a reliable forecast at this stage for conversion to automatic working of the manual exchanges at Ballyvary, Partree, Louisburgh or Ballyhean (which exchange serves Ballintubber).
There is neither a post office nor an exchange in Ballykeane, Castlebar. The Deputy may have Ballyhean post office, Castlebar, in mind. Operators in the exchange there have semi-automatic facilities. As stated above, it is not possible at this stage to give a reliable forecast as to when Ballyhean exchange will be converted to automatic working.