andMr. Hegarty asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give details of the extension to the telephone exchange at Youghal, County Cork, when it is expected to become operational, and how soon the backlog of telephone installation applications will be attended to in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
43.
The extension proposed is a 1,000 line mobile exchange to supplement the existing 900 line exchange. It is expected to be in service in the autumn. It is planned to provide service to about half of the waiting applicants within 12 months of the exchange becoming available and the remainder over the subsequent six months.
Is the Minister aware that some of these people have already been waiting three years for a connection? The Minister told us earlier that the vast majority of people waiting longer than two years would be catered for in the next 12 months.
In 1976 30 people were waiting, in 1977 45 people were waiting, in 1978 there were 75 people, in 1979 there were 30 and in 1980 there are ten.
The Minister will know that in my area it is considerably greater.
44.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has any plans for improving the public post office service and facilities in Dundrum village, County Dublin.
The existing arrangements are regarded as serving the needs of the area reasonably well. However, the position is kept under review.
Is the Minister aware that the post office in Dundrum village is totally inadequate to meet the needs of the population? Is the Minister aware that on pension days old age pensioners are queueing in the rain and the wind and that that is a totally uncomfortable situation for the people affected?
Since the present postmaster was appointed in 1976 he has enlarged and modernised the premises. Approximately 180 square feet of public space is available and this is adequate to meet normal requirements. I accept that there are occasions such as the mornings of old age pension collections and the Tuesdays on which children's allowances are collected when for about one hour people have to queue outside. Apart from that the requirements are quite adequate.
Will the Minister ask the Postmaster who is doing a fine job in difficult circumstances to erect a canopy outside his premises to offer some protection to people who use the post office, particularly pensioners and housewives with small children and prams?
I will take that into account. I may be able to make a rearrangement so as to relieve the congestion and I could ask some of the people living closer to Ballinteer, Churchtown, Drumartin, Roebuck and Windy Arbour to go to those sub-post offices rather than add to the congestion in Dundrum.
45.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone kiosk on Ballinteer Avenue, County Dublin will be moved to the site agreed by his Department.
The kiosk has been relocated and service is in course of being provided at the new location.