On 28 February I put down a question for written reply but I was not happy with the reply I received. Newcastlewest is the county capital in my area, which is a designated area. So far we have not received a direct dialling system in spite of the fact that there are 600 subscribers in the immediate area. Many smaller towns and smaller areas have that service. I do not know why we are denied it. This town was to have an automatic service at the end of the year but for some reason that project has been put back indefinitely. There was a site for this automatic exchange at Rathkeale and the erection of it was begun. Building has now been stopped and the people in the area are anxious to know why.
The town has 15 industries employing approximately 1,500 people and approximately 30 per cent of their total output is for export. That speaks for itself. The population of the area is approximately 15,000. The absence of this service has had a bad effect on industry. One can well understand how difficult it is to interest industrialists in an area which has no automatic exchange. That lack creates a handicap for industrial development. West Limerick is literally starved of industry because of this and this was never so evident as during the present postal and telecommunications strike. Only during the past ten weeks have the people of Newcastlewest fully realised what they are being denied.
The IDA has a very difficult task in trying to induce industrialists to come to west Limerick. The people feel that without this basic service there is no hope for the future. The lack of adequate telecommunications services has literally isolated west Limerick from the outside world. We have no contacts and no hope of new industry because of this fact. Other areas such as Rathkeale, Kilmallock and Kilfinane suffer from the same inadequacy.
I would ask the Minister of State to make a commitment tonight, to give us this service. Over 400 subscribers have signed a petition, which I received, requesting the Minister to give an early indication of his intentions. They have set as a dead line 16 May to hear from the Department. These people are not easily roused, as has been proved by the fact that there is little trouble in these areas and few grievances have been expressed. There have been no protest marches or anything like that. However, people are only prepared to put up with a certain amount.
Industrialists find it very hard to reach, for instance, the managers of their firms in Newcastlewest, and there are very long delays. That is the reason I am asking the Minister here tonight to give me some information about what is happening. About two years ago these services were promised for Newcastlewest. I understand that something has happened to the site. Some people tell us that it has to do with dampness but I would like to know why we were not told anything. On behalf of the people of west Limerick I ask the Minister of State to say why this service has not been provided. I do not want to be told it will be provided in one or two year's time which was the reply I received to a question I put down.