asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide a sub-post office at Newtown, Enfield, County Meath, to serve the expanding population in the area.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
170.
It is not considered that provision of a sub-post office at Newtown would be warranted by the amount of business likely to arise in the area.
171.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the public telephone kiosk to be provided at Newtown, Kilcock, County Kildare, under the local authority guarantee scheme will be erected.
As soon as possible after the necessary legal agreement has been completed and the necessary consents to a suitable site have been obtained.
172.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the basis for the estimate that telephone service receipts will increase by 70 per cent to £116 million in 1979.
The estimate of £116 million for 1979 includes £14 million for telephone accounts which would normally have been paid in 1978 and provides both for recovery of traffic lost last year and for further growth arising from expansion of the system.
173.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing telephone service to an electrical contractor (details supplied) in County Meath who has five men employed and for whom a telephone is vital to the maintenance of this employment; and when he may expect service to be available.
The reason is a shortage of equipment at the local exchange. This will be remedied later this year and service will then be provided for the applicant.
174.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications by old age pensioners to date, since the inception of the scheme, for telephone service; and the numbers connected to date.
About 5,600 applications have been received to date of which some 1,200 have been met.
175.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of outstanding telephone applications to date; the number connected during 1978; and the number expected to be connected in 1979.
About 65,000, on 1 February 1979, 39,100 and 55,000, target figure, respectively.
176.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why an applicant (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a telephone service, in view of the contracts obtained by him and the numbers he already employs.
It was not possible to attend to this application because of the pressure of other urgent engineering work in the area. It is expected that service will be provided within the next six months or so, subject to receipt of the necessary wayleaves consents which have been sought.
177.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange to have a telephone provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who applied almost four years ago.
It is expected that terms will be quoted to the applicant in the next six months or so.