asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the serious factors pertaining in the case of an applicant for a telephone service (details supplied) in Dublin; if, in the circumstances, he will grant priority to this application; and when the application will be met.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
417.
Because of the circumstances of this application special arrangements are being made to provide service by exceptional means and it is expected that this will be done within the next three months or so.
418.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has had a communication from the Strawberry Beds Community Centre, Dublin, regarding the chaotic condition of the telephone service of most subscribers in that areas; if he will explain why the proliferation of problems continue to occur in this area; the urgent action he has taken to ensure a reliable service to the subscribers in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have received representations recently from the secretary of the Strawberry Beds Community Centre about the telephone service in the area. The incidence of telephone faults in the area has been high in recent months. This is particularly true of faults in underground cables which are the most difficult and time consuming to repair. Because of the large number of such faults, I regret that there has been considerable delay in restoring service in many cases.
These problems were aggravated by a separate series of faults in the local distribution system. A special effort is being made at present throughout the 01 area to reduce the backlog of faults and so improve the quality of service to all customers. This includes a special programme of systematic examination and repair of plant in the Strawberry Beds. Because of the many demands on the Department's resources, it will take some time to complete this programme but I expect a gradual and sustained improvement in the quality of service in the area in the coming months.
419.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone line will be connected for persons (details supplied) in Dublin.
Service is dependent on the provision of cabling, which, because of the volume of engineering work requiring attention in the Dublin area is unlikely to be carried out for another year.
420.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the defective telephone of a person (details supplied) in Dublin, which has been out of order for several months, will be replaced.
The fault has been repaired.