asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone exchange at Killala, County Mayo, will become automatic and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Telephone Service.
22.
In the latter half of 1982. It had been hoped to effect the conversion sooner but acquisition of suitable site area proved more protracted than had been expected.
25.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make a statement on the immediate effect of the proposed digital telephone exchange system in providing County Donegal with an efficient telephone service and when this service will be available to subscribers in this area.
It is planned to convert ten manual exchanges in South Donegal, including Donegal town to automatic working in 1982 using digital electronic equipment. The main trunk switching centre for these ten exchanges will be at Sligo where it is expected that a new digital trunk exchange will be in service about the end of 1981. The Sligo exchange building is at present in course of construction.
Letterkenny will be the main trunk switching centre for the remaining 56 manual exchanges in County Donegal. The exchange there which was brought into service last year is a crossbar one and the exchanges dependent on it will also be of the crossbar type. It is hoped to convert seven of these exchanges to automatic working this year and the others in 1981 and 1982.
The conversion to automatic working over the next three years of the manual telephone exchanges in County Donegal will bring a progressive improvement in the quality of service to subscribers.
Question No. 182 withdrawn.