asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give an estimate of the number of telephone kiosks (a) vandalised and (b) out of order for other reasons throughout the country at present, the estimated length of the delay in having services restored, and if it is intended to acquire kiosks more resistant to malicious damage.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Kiosks.
30.
The number of kiosks out of order at a recent date was about 400, over half of them due to vandalism. The great majority of kiosks are restored to service within a few days, but where the damage is extensive repairs can take longer and at the end of last week some 40 of the 3,000 kiosks had been out of order for over a month.
It is not possible to make kiosks vandal-proof but action has been taken over the years and continues to be taken to reduce the incidence of vandalism. The measures taken include reinforcing coin boxes, replacing glass by specially strengthened plastic and improving the light in kiosks. Specially strengthened coin boxes are being brought into service progressively and over 200 of these are already in use resulting in a reduction in the number of kiosks out of order due to vandalism. A new type of kiosk is also being installed in a number of centres which as well as being more attractive visually is less susceptible to damage and it is planned to instal 1,000 new-type STD coin boxes later this year which should be much less prone to damage.
Is the Minister talking about new coin boxes or replacement coin boxes for the existing ones?
Most are replacements for the existing ones.