asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in the delivery of old age pension books to pensioners in the Crettyard area of Counties Laois and Kilkenny; and if he will take immediate steps to have them delivered as a matter of special urgency to the pensioners in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Old Age Pension Books.
22.
The renewal pension books payable at Crettyard were all delivered in time for payment to commence on the due date, with the exception of three. While I regret the delay in these three cases, the books were delivered in time to enable the pensioners concerned to be paid within the week following the due date. Some pension books were recalled by the Department of Social Welfare for change of office of payment at the pensioners' request, but I am advised that all of these were promptly returned. If, however, the Deputy has any particular cases in mind and lets me have the details, I shall be glad to communicate them to the Minister for Social Welfare.
Question No. 23 is for written answer.
24.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of public coinbox telephones on the public roadway in Waterford city out of order at present; and if he will outline his intention on repairing and maintaining same.
A telephone kiosk at Lisduggan was the only one not in operation on Thursday 13 November. This kiosk has been subjected to repeated vandalism and is to be re-sited. An alternative site has been obtained and, as soon as local authority permission is granted, the kiosk will be brought back into service.
25.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone service will be provided on transfer for an applicant (details supplied) in Dublin; and the reason for the delay in this case compared to other transfer applicants in the same estate who have already been provided with service.
Service has already been provided, the application having been dealt with in conjunction with that of other applicants in the area for whom it was possible to provide service.
26.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a company (details supplied) in Dublin which now employs 50 people and which needs service urgently.
Service will be provided within the next two months or so.
Will the Minister indicate the reason for this delay of more than two years? This business is giving much employment and because of the delay of more than two years it has suffered in its overseas contracts because of lack of a telephone service. Earlier the Minister asked us to specify problem areas. This is one such area and I am asking him why has there been such a delay in providing a facility here.
I accept that this is one of the areas in Dublin where there is a serious problem. I can tell the Deputy that the delay is the same as anywhere else. We cannot do everybody over night.
The Minister is doing everybody right, left and centre.
My general policy and I have issued instructions to this effect to my Department — is that where jobs are concerned, priority will be given. I have not the details of the particular problems in the area but, as I say, service is being given within the next two months or so. In general — and I have asked the IDA to communicate with me in this — they should tell well in advance where they are planning industrial estates so that we will have an opportunity, where priority measures have to be taken, to ensure that a telephone service is brought to those industrial estates where jobs are at stake. In many cases, people set up industries and businesses and having set them up then look for the telephone service. I would appeal to the public and to the Deputies to realise that any forward information which can be given to my Department would be only too welcome. It is my objective to ensure that, where jobs are at stake, they will get as much priority as possible.
A final supplementary from Deputy Cosgrave.
I was in touch with the Minister's office over six months ago and since that time this gentlement has had to—
A question please, Deputy.
—let some business go, due to the fact that a telephone service was not available. What is the Minister prepared to do about that?
Is that priority?
There are many areas of priority and it is a question of what can be done with human resources. This is a problem which I inherited. The basis and root cause of this problem goes back to the mid-seventies when many of the people on the other side were in Government. I cannot solve everything overnight.
The Minister has provided 40,000 telephones in the last nine months.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.
27.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a community school (details supplied) in Dublin.
Service will be provided within a month or so.
This school is within a mile of the factory mentioned. There are several hundred children in this school and they are without a telephone service. If an accident occurred in the school it cannot be reported, or an ambulance cannot be summoned to the school.
A question, please.
The Minister has told me that he is going to provide a telephone service. Is that right?
Within a month or so.
28.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if the free telephone rental allowance will have to be paid in advance by an applicant (details supplied) in Dublin and reclaimed each year from the Eastern Health Board—
No: This applicant did not notify my Department that she was an old age pensioner until the agreement was being completed. A claim for eligibility under the free telephone rental scheme has been forwarded to the Department of Social Welfare and, if approved, a refund of the advance rental paid will be made.
Could the Minister say how soon a decision will be made on her eligibility?
That is a matter for the Minister for Social Welfare. As soon as I get a decision, we shall arrange about making a refund.
Pass the buck.
I deal with my own Department.
29.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a public telephone kiosk erected in the Borlin Valley, Kealkil, Bantry, County Cork.
The use likely to be made of a telephone kiosk at Borlin Valley would not be sufficient to warrant its provision and it is not proposed therefore to provide one there at present.
Is the Minister aware of the distance which the people living in the Borlin Valley have to travel to get to a telephone?
Am I aware of what?
Of the distance of about four miles from the nearest telephone? There are about 20 houses involved. Surely the people in those houses are entitled to a telephone service?
I appreciate the difficulty there. A kiosk has been erected but I appreciate that this is four miles from the Borlin Cross. A kiosk could be provided at Borlin Valley, if the local authority decided to guarantee——
That is a new step.
A question, please.
It does not come within the criteria involved. The option is open to the Deputy to have the matter taken up by the local authority. If approval of that is sent to me, I can look after the matter.
Could I ask the Minister if he regards the installation of telephones and telephone kiosks as the responsibility of the local authorities? That is passing the buck, with all respect.
That is not passing the buck. I understand the problem, but I have to decide. We have a set of criteria for deciding where the provision of service is justified or not. The Deputy has the option of taking the matter up with the local authority.
Can the Minister tell me is the same criterion used throughout the country?
Of course.
If there were 20 houses in a housing estate, a telephone service would be provided.
30.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the inadequacy of the telephone service in Galway city and county; and when subscribers can hope for a reasonable service.
As a result of the provision of new exchanges, additional trunk circuits and the introduction of international subscriber dialling over the last 12 to 18 months telephone service in Galway city and county is significantly better than it was before then. There is, of course, substantial room for improvement in these areas as there is in the country generally and one of the objectives of the Government's five-year major investment programme in the telephone service is to provide a high quality automatic service nationally, including the Galway area.
While I do not propose detailing all the improvements that are planned for the Galway area, I would like to mention the more important ones that will take effect over the next two years.
These are:
(a) additional trunk outlets on the Galway-Dublin route on the opening of a new trunk exchange in Dublin towards the end of this year.
(b) additional circuits from Galway to Athenry in the first quarter of 1981 and to Gort in the first quarter of 1982
(c) provision of a microwave link from Galway to Tuam planned to be in service about the middle of 1981.
(d) a new Dublin-Galway microwave link in the second half of 1981.
(e) new automatic exchanges in Ballinasloe and Tuam in 1981 and an extension to existing exchanges in Galway (Shantalla) and Loughrea in 1982.
(f) conversion to automatic working of Ardrahan next month, of Gort in 1981 and of Athenry, Clifden and Portumna in 1982.
(g) introduction of a new telecommunications complex at Mervue, Galway, in 1981/1982 which will house major trunk and local exchanges.
I thank the Minister for a very comprehensive reply to my question.
A question, please, Deputy.
Notwithstanding that fact, is the Minister aware that in the meantime we need a telephone service there? I admit that we have had a telephone service for a time, but it is a very unsatisfactory one.
A question, please.
Is the Minister aware that he has sought, from Deputies in this House, information where the telephone service is not up to standard and has said that in these instances he would be prepared to provide a telephone service? I am bringing to his notice now the lack of a telephone service.
That is a speech, Deputy.
It is a good speech.
I am now bringing the lack of a telephone service to the notice of the Minister. In Galway city and county there is a great lack of telephone services. The Minister is making promises as to what he will do in the future. Can he do something about it now?
There is no lack of telephone services in Galway city or county. The Deputy may not be aware of the fact, but I intend to provide this country with a telephone service.
Question No. 31.
(Interruptions.)
These are not just promises. Progress is being made.
Is the Deputy saying that his predecessor did not provide it?
I am saying what I am doing——
The Minister is reflecting on his predecessor.
——and what my predecessor did in recent years.
Would the Minister now mind answering Question No. 31, please?
The Minister said that he inherited the problem.
From the mid-seventies, when the money and human resources were not taken on. That is what I said and let us be quite clear on this.
31.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will direct his Department to provide a list of telephone numbers for which charges are made on telephone accounts instead of a code number as at present furnished on these accounts.
It would not be practicable at present to do what the Deputy suggests. Details of operator-assisted trunk calls are however furnished to those subscribers who have requested that they be given these particulars on a regular basis. A small fee is charged for this service.
Surely the Minister must agree that this is totally unsatisfactory? The Minister must be aware——
Do not mind, Deputy, if he is aware. If he is not, then just ask a question, please.
Is the Minister aware that subscribers are not satisfied with the telephone accounting system as operated at the moment? Is he further aware that this question, number 31, in another form was recommended to him by the General Council of County Councils and that these steps should be taken?
I am not aware that the total general public are dissatisfied with their accounts, I am aware that certain individuals are dissatisfied with their accounts. I have already said that where they request the information, it can be provided. Let me further say that I am carrying out an experiment at the moment with optical character reading equipment.
Santa Claus.
If proved successful it will enable more information to be given to the account holder. This experiment with new technology is being carried out at present, but if other information is requested it can be, and has been, provided whenever requested and the customer is asked for a small fee.
People would like to know what they are paying for and that is the purpose of the question.
Of course it is necessary to get a bill and of course a customer will get a bill. If a customer asks we will investigate a dispute. If every detail is wanted when the account is sent out we will do so for a small fee.
Will the Minister tell the House how many accounts have been amended by the Bainisteor Ginearaélta in the last few weeks?
That is a separate question and, if the Deputy puts it on the Order Paper, I will give him the statistical data.
The Minister is too embarrassed to answer that question.
The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for next Tuesday, 25 November 1980.
On a point of order, is it proper for a Minister to cast reflection on a former occupant of the office who is now in the Chair?
I am moving to the next business.