asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applicants awaiting telephone service in Waterford City and County as at 1 September for the following years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Waterford Telephone Service.
176.
The figures required for Waterford city are 43; 44; 57; 276; and 559. Those for Waterford county are 182, 179; 200; 369; and 542.
Service is being provided for waiting applicants in Waterford city at the rate of 600 per year at present, but it is expected to improve on this in the course of the next year.
It is planned to offer service by mid-1980 to those applicants in Waterford county who applied before 1979 and who have not yet been given service; the remaining 1979 applicants will, it is proposed, be offered service before the end of 1980.
One of the aims of the Government's £650 million accelerated telephone development programme is to achieve a situation where applications for service can be met promptly.