asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the serious loss of business and inconvenience caused to the traders in the new Swords Shopping Centre, County Dublin, because they are unable to obtain a telephone service; and, if so, the steps he intends to take to rectify the matter.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
496.
I regret that because of shortage of equipment in Swords exchange it has not been possible to provide service to the traders in question. It is expected that service will be provided for two of the traders within the next month or so and for the remainder in about four months' time when additional equipment becomes available.
497.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is now prepared to provide an additional public telephone to serve the needs of residents of the Wedgewood and Moreen Estates, Dublin 14.
An additional kiosk to serve the needs of these estates will be provided as soon as possible after the necessary consents have been obtained to a suitable site.
498.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of times the telephone kiosk outside Sandyford House, Dublin 14, has been reported out of order in the past six months.
The number of faults reported in the past six months was 13; 23 other faults were cleared in the course of regular maintenance.
499.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state, in relation to the Wedgewood Estate, Sandyford, County Dublin, (a) if the undertaking given in reply to Question No. 486 of 7 March 1978, that cabling was scheduled for completion before the end of the year still holds; (b) if there has been a change in the schedule, and, if so, the reasons for any such change; (c) the current total number of applications for telephone service in the estate; and (d) the most precise forecast available to him of when service will be provided to the applicants.
(a) No undertaking was given on this matter; the answer gave the position at that time. (b) As a result of the industrial action by engineering staff earlier this year, during the course of which no cabling work could be carried out in Dublin, and the diversion of cabling staff to maintenance work when the industrial action ended, this cabling job and several others could not be undertaken as had been planned. (c) 140. (d) About the middle of next year.
500.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in regard to the Drimoleague telephone sub-exchange area, County Cork, (a) the number of existing subscribers in the area; (b) the number of applicants from the area on the waiting list; (c) when the automatic equipment was installed; (d) the number of subscribers who are capable of being accommodated by the new equipment; and (e) the steps that are being taken to ensure that outstanding applicants will receive telephone facilities in the near future.
(a) 195. (b) 65. (c) December 1977. (d) 200. (e) An extension to the exchange which will enable service to be provided to outstanding applicants is on order and is expected to be installed about the middle of next year.