(Dublin South Central) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the new automatic exchange in Terenure. Dublin is expected to come into operation.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
7.
In the second half of next year.
Question No. 8 is for written reply.
9.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will arrange that 10 and other operator-assisted calls will be channelled through the Bantry exchange, County Cork, when it becomes automatic.
The intention is that when Bantry exchange has been converted to automatic working, all operator services for the area will be provided from Cork exchange. The volume of manual traffic to be handled at Bantry following the conversion of the exchange to automatic working would not warrant retention of operators there. Moreover, the new automatic exchange for Bantry has been designed on the basis that operator services would be provided from Cork and provision of operator services in Bantry would involve additional expense, delay in bringing the automatic exchange into use and poor quality of transmission on operator-controlled calls.
I should add that the arrangements for dealing with staff displaced as a result of extension of the automatic service generally is the subject of discussion with the staff organisations representing the staffs involved.
Would the Minister accept that if there were provision in Bantry for operator-assisted calls to be channelled through there that probably half of the 60 people who lose their jobs would be retained in employment in Bantry, which is a rural area, as opposed to the city?
We have within the Department in Bantry a certain number of operators. We have three supervisory grade II people and we have 30 telephonists. On night duty we have 20 night and Sunday telephone operators. The day staff are all permanent full-time civil servants. The supervisory posts are, however, temporary which means that when the posts are no longer justified the officers holding them revert to the next lower grade. The night staff are all temporary employees who were recruited specifically for service at Bantry.
The Minister missed the point I made. The figures seem to add up to more than the 60 I mentioned but that is not the point.
The figures add up to 50.
If the Minister accepts that there should be a policy of decentralisation and if he thinks that the Bantry area alone would not justify having operator-assisted calls channelled through it, would he not consider channelling all west Cork operator-assisted calls through Bantry rather than through the city?
Under the programme for the digital exchanges — Bantry will be converted to a digital exchange — we have 16 major centres chosen for operators. They are Athlone, Castlebar, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mullingar, Naas, Portlaoise, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford and Wicklow. Technically speaking the equipment for Bantry has been ordered and this is a unique opportunity for the people of Bantry to accept automation. We cannot change the decision at this stage because if we did it for Bantry we would have to do it for every town and the whole programme would be thrown asunder. If we are to go digital we must comply with the regulations, the plans and the engineering requirements necessary for such digital exchanges. We are offering all our staff in Bantry, particularly those on day work, alternative employment at Cork, Tralee or Limerick, the nearest exchanges to them.
They are a long way from West Cork.
It has come to my knowledge that certain agitation is going on in Bantry and I should like to take the opportunity to explain that this change presents a unique chance for the people of Bantry to have a proper telecommunications service. A digital exchange is the only answer because it must fit into the digital network. In addition, if the people of Bantry Bay and Deputy O'Keeffe do not want us to put in the digital exchange they should tell me. I cannot do anything else except put in digital exchanges.
What does the Minister term as a proper telecommunications service? Would the Minister go down there on holidays?
To be factual I should like to tell Deputy O'Keeffe that there are no alternatives because a digital system is being installed in all exchanges. This will occur in more exchanges than Bantry and due to the demand for those exchanges a limited number are available this year. If the Deputy or the people of Bantry do not want the digital exchange I am sure there are many towns around the country that would be delighted to have it.
The local people want an automatic exchange but they are anxious to protect jobs as far as possible. Would the Minister consider, from the point of view of protecting jobs in the area — as opposed to bringing those people into the city — establishing a telephone contracts office there or some other section of the Department to take up the slack created by the significant loss of jobs in this country town.
It is not a significant loss of jobs. I am anxious to convey to the Deputy that due to the technology we are using we are transferring those people, if they wish, and if not we will deal with them appropriately. Deputy O'Keeffe, the people of Bantry and of west Cork should take into account that last year we appointed 51 extra people to the engineering section in west Cork. We should be complimented on that decision.
Is this all part of the micro-chip technology?
I would like the Minister to share my concern for the people involved.
I do but there is nothing I can do about it.
The Minister should consider setting up a telephone contracts office there.
That is a separate question.
Would the Minister consider setting up such an office to help the people of the area?
The Minister would help the Chair if he replied to Ceist 10.
The Deputy should communicate with me.
I will do that.
10.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that a factory in Castletownbere, County Cork, (details supplied) is being hampered in commencing production because of a delay in the installation of telephones: and whether he will make immediate arrangements to have them installed.
Telephone service on one line has been provided for the company named. The other two lines required will be provided when the company are in a position to accept service.
When was the line in question provided?
They applied on 2 August but I do not have the date when the service was provided. They made application for a PABX system and it is a matter for the company and those responsible for installing such a system to decide on the system necessary. It is an internal problem.
The service was given since I tabled the question. I am sure the Minister is aware that the factory could not be opened until the line was provided.
The service has been provided.