asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why it is so difficult to get a new business telephone in East Galway; and if he anticipates any improvement in the situation in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Telephone Service .
15.
(Dublin South-Central): There is no undue difficulty generally in providing new business telephones in East Galway for applicants in priority categories. Abnormal delay may occur in some cases where there is unusually heavy construction work involved or the telephone is required in an area where there is a temporary shortage of exchange equipment.
Provision of mobile exchanges in Tuam and Ballinasloe later this year will result in a substantial improvement in these areas.
The basic reason why there is delay in providing telephones for applicants who are not in priority categories is that the Department's resources of plant and skilled manpower in East Galway as in the rest of the country have not yet been built up to the level required to overtake arrears and deal with current demand. The development programme prepared in connection with the Telephone Capital Act, 1977, which provides for investment of a further £350 million in the telephone service, should go a long way towards eliminating the delays that are being experienced at present.
: Would the Minister not consider that a substantial business premises should get priority? Would he not consider that a spare parts department which cannot be contacted unless it has a telephone is losing business? There is also a chemist with a private house where people want to ring up about prescriptions. These are three cases that have failed to get on the priority list in the town of Ballinasloe. They are not outside the town. This complaint was made five years ago. The position was the same before the Minister came into office and it has not improved.
: We cannot have a speech about telephones in Galway.
(Dublin South-Central): It is established practice in my Department where businesses that employ people are concerned to give every possible assistance with regard to installation of a telephone. This practice existed when my predecessor was in office.
: If the three names in question are supplied to the Minister will he reconsider the matter? They were not eligible for the priority list. One case is a big business premises, another is a chemist shop and the other person involved makes spare parts and cannot do business unless he has a telephone.
(Dublin South-Central): If it is a big business they will automatically qualify for inclusion on the list.
: They are not that big. I would point out that we have not very large businesses.
(Dublin South-Central): If the Deputy submits the names I will look into the matter.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Did not the manifesto state that the Government would do everything for the telephone system? Deputy Callanan does not seem to think that the situation is so good.
16.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider the provision of a public telephone for Saleen, Cloyne, County Cork, where 45 households, of which 17 per cent are elderly people and 41 per cent are without transport, are without a phone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Dublin South-Central): It is not the practice at present to provide telephone kiosks in places such as Saleen where there is no post office.
: We were informed by the previous Minister that Saleen would be supplied with a public telephone on condition that it would be cared for by the local authority. This was taken up with the local authority at a public meeting but the county manager felt it was not their function to look after telephones. I suppose it is hard to disagree with that. In view of this commitment to this village, would the Minister reconsider his decision if the telephone were located in the garden of a private premises where it could be supervised?
(Dublin South-Central): The Deputy is quite right with regard to the Cork County Council. In August 1976 they advised the Department that they had been requested to have kiosks provided in a number of places in the county, including Saleen. They were informed that the Department would be prepared to provide the kiosks under guarantee and the usual terms were quoted to the council. However, in February 1977 the council replied indicating that they did not propose to proceed with the matter. If the county council submit another application the Department will facilitate them.
: The council do not think it is their function to look after telephone equipment. If we could find a suitable location on private premises, even in somebody's home would the Minister reconsider the matter?
(Dublin South-Central): It is not just a question of location. At this time the Department do not consider that it would merit erecting a kiosk in Saleen.
: Why should local authorities do the job for which the Minister's Department are responsible? Why should they install telephones? The attitude of the Minister and his predecessors has been that they will provide a kiosk if there a profit to be made. However, if has to be subsidised the ratepayers a expected to pay. I do not agree that local authorities should be asked provide telephone kiosks.
(Dublin South-Central): I do not believe that Opposition Deputies expect a telephone kiosk at every crossroads in the country. The cost of erecting and maintaining a public kiosk is £375 per annum. We must be practical in this matter.
: The Minister is saying that county councils should do this work.
: The area in question is particularly remote and old people may have difficulty in contacting their doctor. I would appeal to the Minister to reconsider the matter. Apparently the question of maintaining the telephone kiosk arose because of vandalism—this is the situation in every village. If we were to have the 'phone installed in somebody's house, would the Minister reconsider the matter? That is all I am asking.
(Dublin South-Central): My information is that there are 15 telephones in the village and a coin box 'phone is available. The nearest kiosk is two and a half miles away.
: There is no coin box telephone available.
(Dublin South-Central): My information is that there is.
17.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone exchange at Cappawhite, County Tipperary, will be changed from manual to automatic working.
(Dublin South-Central): It is expected that Cappawhite telephone exchange will be converted to automatic working in about three years.
: As the Minister no doubt is aware, Cappawhite telephone exchange is quite a sizeable exchange with a large number of subscribers. The subscribers consider, especially when smaller exchanges have gone automatic, that they should get priority treatment. Is there any hope that the exchange will change to automatic working sooner than three years?
(Dublin South-Central): A site has been acquired by the Office of Public Works for the erection of an automatic exchange combined with a garda station. The Department have asked the Office of Public Works if they would be prepared to go ahead at an earlier date, and if it would be possible to proceed with one part of the project apart from the Garda station. However, I cannot give any undertaking at this time.