asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date on which work commenced on the erection of the automatic telephone exchange at Cappagh, County Waterford; the completion date of the work in question; the reason for the unreasonable delay in having the exchange brought into operation; and when it is expected that it will be brought into operation.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
40.
Work on the building began in November 1978 but stopped in May 1979 before the work was completed. Continuing efforts by the Office of Public Works to get the contractor to complete the building have failed and they are now arranging to invite tenders for the completion of the work. The objective is to have the work completed by the end of this year. On this basis, it is expected that the Cappagh exchange will be converted to automatic working about the end of next year.
41.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to the exceptionally long delay in having telephones installed in the west Waterford area which is served by the Youghal exchange; and when it is expected that the present position will be alleviated.
I am aware that there are numbers of applicants in that area waiting for service for quite some time. Provision of service is dependent on additional cabling work being done. This is being carried out progressively. It is expected that service will be offered to all the pre-1980 applicants by the end of this year and to later applicants throughout next year according as cabling work is carried out.
43.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if the decision to install a special public telephone kiosk for the disabled in Galway City has been changed; and, if not, when and where it will be installed.
It is planned to provide a telephone kiosk for the disabled in Galway. A suitable site is being sought in conjunction with Galway Corporation in or near Eyre Square. The kiosk will be provided as soon as possible after the consents to a suitable site have been obtained.
44.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if the decision to erect a public telephone kiosk at Sandyvale Lawns, Galway has been changed; and, if so, why.
Arrangements have been made to provide kiosks at Tirellan Heights and Castlelawn Heights which, in addition to meeting the needs of these specific areas, will also serve the locality generally, including Sandyvale Lawns. A kiosk would not be justified at Sandyvale Lawns at present based on existing criteria but with the further developments envisaged in the area, one may be warranted there later. The position will be kept under review. I might add that kiosks have already been approved for some 800 centres meeting the existing criteria and it will clearly take time to provide all of these.
45.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the work being carried out at present in the Dublin South Constituency to provide telephone service for all the applicants there.
Works in progress to enable service to be provided for applicants in this area include the provision of new buildings for telephone exchanges and staff, the installation of exchanges, the carrying out of cabling works and the installation of telephones. Extensive underground cabling is a prime requirement for the provision of service for applicants in the area. Some major cabling schemes are in hands and are programmed for completion this year; others will be attended to progressively during 1982 and 1983.