asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in supplying a telephone to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and when a telephone will be supplied.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
666.
I am sorry it has not been possible to meet this application yet because of the volume of engineering work on hands and requiring attention in the Dublin district. It is expected that service will be supplied in 1983.
667.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and when a telephone will be supplied.
It has not been possible to meet this application which was received in December 1981 because of the volume of engineering work on hands and awaiting attention in the Dublin area. It is expected the service will be provided next year.
668.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason an application for a telephone by a person (details supplied) in Dublin has not yet been met although most of his neighbours have received telephones; and when a telephone will be supplied.
I am sorry it has not been possible to meet this application because of a shortage of engineering plant in the area and the large volume of work on hands and requiring attention in the Dublin district. It is expected that service will be provided in about a year. Other persons on the same road for whom service has been provided applied before the person named.
669.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so until early next year.
670.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin for business purposes.
Service was provided on 21 April 1982.
671.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so until early next year.
672.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone transfer will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Within about a month.
673.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Within about six months.
674.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Service was provided on 15 April 1982.
675.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
In about a year.
676.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Early next year.
677.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
It has not been possible to trace an application on behalf of the person named. If the Deputy can furnish additional information about the application, for example, when and where the application was made, further efforts will be made to trace it.
678.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Towards the end of this year.
679.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for persons (details supplied) in Dublin.
Early next year.
680.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Early next year.
681.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Early next year.
682.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
In about a year.
683.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied in Dublin.
Early next year.
684.
asked the Minister for Post and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the delay that has surrounded this application particularly having regard to the fact that neighbours of the applicant have received service even though their applications were made later than that of this applicant.
It is expected that service will be provided within about two months when additional capacity becomes available in the local exchange.
The applicant's home was one of a small number which was built later than the rest of the estate. As a result cabling to meet this application was not carried out until some time after the rest of the estate had been cabled and it was not possible to include the applicant in the initial clearance of waiting applications.
685.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when an applicant for a telephone transfer (details supplied) in Dublin will be provided with service; and if he will make a statement on the delay, having regard to the fact that people living in close proximity to the applicant whose applications were made later than that of this applicant have been provided with service.
Service was provided on 20 April 1982. If the Deputy will provide details of the other applications referred to further inquiries will be made.
686.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be allocated a telephone.
It is expected that telephone service will be provided for the person named about the end of this year.
687.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
About the end of this year.
688.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Within about three months.
689.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Early next year.
690.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Within the next six months or so.
691.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a public telephone kiosk will be provided in the Corrib Lawn area of Mayfield, Cork.
The provision of an additional kiosk in this area is not regarded as warranted at present and it is not proposed therefore to provide one there.
692.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is likely that the application for telephone service made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin will be met; and if the application will be given priority in view of the fact that the applicant is living alone and is in poor health.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year. Priority attention will be accorded when the necessary cabling has been completed.
693.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is an old woman at present living alone and who was in hospital recently.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year.
694.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in supplying a telephone to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will now make arrangements for its installation.
It has not been possible to provide telephone service for the person named so far because of the amount of linework required and the volume of applications on hands in the Cork area. It is expected that service will be provided about the end of this year.
695.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
About the end of this year.
696.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware of a long running dispute in relation to the telephone account of a person (details supplied) in Dublin in respect of which he alleges arrears accumulated during a time when the telephone was out of order and which has been the subject of investigation for two years; and if he will have this matter investigated urgently.
The accounts problem was discussed with the subscriber in January last as a result of which a rebate of £7.64 was allowed. This rebate appeared in his account for the quarter January/March 1982. It was the Department's understanding that the dispute had then been resolved as there has been no communication from the subscriber since January. I have arranged, however, that an officer of the Department will contact the subscriber again.
697.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone will be installed for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
Early next year.
698.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in installing a telephone for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has been waiting for service for several years.
It has not been possible to provide telephone service for the person named so far because of the amount of linework required and the volume of applications on hands in the Cork area.
It is expected that service will be provided about the end of this year.
699.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in installing a telephone for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is in very poor health.
It has not been possible to provide telephone service for the person named so far because of the amount of linework required and the volume of applications on hands in the Cork area. It is expected that service will be provided about the end of this year.
700.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in installing a telephone for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when he expects that the telephone will be installed.
It has not been possible so far to provide service for the person named who applied in July 1981 because of the volume of engineering work on hands and awaiting attention in the Cork area. It is expected that service will be provided within about a year.
701.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange for the immediate transfer of a telephone for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
It is expected that telephone service will be provided at the new address towards the end of this year.
702.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be provided with a telephone service.
In about a year.
703.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone transfer which was applied for in July 1978 will be effected for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Within the next three months or so.
704.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and when a telephone will be supplied.
It has not been possible so far to provide service for the person named because of a shortage of engineering plant in the area and the volume of applications on hands in the Dublin district. It is expected that service will be supplied in about a year.
705.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and when a telephone will be supplied.
It is expected that service will be provided in about a year for this applicant whose application was received in March 1982.
706.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and when a telephone will be supplied.
I am sorry that it has not been possible to provide telephone service for the person named because of a shortage of engineering plant in the area and the volume of applications on hands in the Dublin district. It is expected that service will be supplied in about a year.
707.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will move the telephone kiosk from the footpath beside 1 St. Mark's Gardens, Clondalkin, County Dublin, to a site where it will not constitute a nuisance to the local inhabitants.
This will be arranged as soon as the volume of other engineering work allows. An alternative site for the kiosk is being sought at present.
708.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the facts of a case (details supplied) in Dublin, he will grant the applicant priority for a telephone; and when a telephone will be supplied.
Priority attention will be accorded as soon as necessary plant is available to serve the area. Regrettably because of the volume of engineering work on hands and requiring attention in the Dublin area it is unlikely that it will be possible to provide the service for about a year.
709.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) in Dublin will be provided with a telephone service.
In about a year.
710.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in transferring the telephone of a person (details supplied) in Dublin.
It has not been possible so far to provide a transfer of service for the person named, whose application was received in November 1978, because of a shortage of engineering plant in the area and the volume of applications on hands in the Dublin area. It is expected that service will be provided at the new address about the end of this year.
711.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date an application for a telephone service was made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin; the reason for the delay in providing service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It has not been possible to trace an application on behalf of the person named. If the Deputy can furnish additional information e.g. when and where the application was made, further efforts will be made to trace it.
712.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in Dublin; and when a telephone will be provided.
It has not been possible to meet this application which was received in September 1978, because of the volume of engineering work on hands and awaiting attention in the Dublin area. It is expected that service will be provided within about six months.
713.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in transfering the telephone of a subscriber (details supplied) in County Dublin from his old to his new home; if he is aware that many transfer cases find that their neighbours who are new applicants get telephones long before them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It has not been possible to provide service for the person named so far because the house in question is one of a number for which it was not possible to provide cable when cable was being provided for other houses in the same estate.
It is expected that service will be provided about the end of this year. Priority attention is accorded to applications for transfer of service where the necessary plant is available.
714.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the widespread feeling that his Department are overcharging subscribers; if he proposes to take any steps to allay public fear in this regard; and if he will make a statement of the matter.
With over 530,000 accounts issued quarterly it is to be expected that there will be a measure of dissatisfaction on the part of subscribers whose accounts are higher than they expected them to be and who will consequently feel they are being overcharged. The position was aggravated over the last few years when, because of industrial action, billing was late and somewhat irregular. The increased charges for calls have also led some subscribers to believe they were being overcharged.
The billing systems is now up-to-date and that should be helpful from a number of viewpoints. Means of improving the billing system are examined on a continuing basis. At present, the following measures are being taken to improve the position:
—a new telephone account form, setting out charges more clearly, will be available from the current quarter
—the reading of subscribers meters by the photographic process is being extended nationally
—an automated system of transferring the filmed data to a computer for processing is being introduced reducing the processing involved
—a new type of ticket for recording trunk calls made via operators that will require reduced processing subsequently is being used.
—meters for checking meter usage will be made available later this year on a sale or rental basis to subscribers who wish to have them
—a substantial proportion of trunk calls made via operators are now being reversed i.e. the callers are being rung back.
715.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in the case of a telephone subscriber (details supplied) in County Dublin the reason letters to the Telephone Accounts Manager of 9 June and 9 November 1981 and 7 February 1982 have not been replied to; if they will now be replied to; if the problem regarding the disputed arrears can now be settled; and if he is aware of the growing concern of telephone subscribers who appear to have been overcharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person in question had disputed his telephone account on a number of occasions in recent years and rebates were allowed on two occasions. The subscriber is now querying his accounts for the quarters ended March 1981, September 1981 and December 1981. His letter of 9 June 1981 was acknowledged but I regret that no response was issued to subsequent letters. Because of the history of complaints by the subscriber, a detailed check of the apparatus will be necessary and the Department will write to him in the next few days about this. On the general question of subscribers feeling they are being overcharged, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 714 to-day.
716.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone will be installed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Early next year.
717.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
Within about a year.
718.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the application for a telephone transfer by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be met; and the reason for the delay in meeting the application in view of the fact that telephones have been installed in the homes of new applicants in the estate.
It has not been possible to provide service for the person named so far because the house in question is one of a small group for which it was not possible to provide cable when cable was being provided for other houses in the same estate.
It is expected that service will be provided about the end of this year.
719.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephones at Pine Valley, County Dublin, will be repaired.
The faults have been repaired.
720.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the long delay in effecting repairs to a telephone for a firm (details supplied) in Dublin; and if the necessary repairs will now be carried out as a matter of urgency.
The fault, which is in the underground cable, will be repaired within the next few days. Because of the number of such faults, which require attention by specially trained staff, I regret that there has been delay in repairing them.
721.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason an applicant (details supplied) in County Dublin who paid £240 for her telephone two months ago has not yet been provided with service; and when the telephone will be connected.
Service was provided recently.
722.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone will be connected for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
It has not been possible to trace an application on behalf of the person named. If the Deputy can furnish additional information about the application, e.g. when and where the application was made, further efforts will be made to trace it.
723.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) who is a pharmaceutical chemist in Dublin will be provided with a telephone service.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year.
724.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) in Dublin will have telephone service restored to him.
Service has been restored.
725.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone subscriber (details supplied) in Dublin will have telephone service restored to her.
Service has been restored.
726.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) in Dublin can expect his telephone to be transferred as requested.
Within about a month.
727.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange for a telephone to be installed for persons (details supplied) in Dublin in view of the fact that there is serious illness in the family.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year.
728.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the application for a telephone service by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will be met.
In about a year.
729.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when urgently needed telephone repairs will be carried out for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
Service has been restored.
730.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for an area (details supplied) in Dublin.
In about a year.
731.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin will be met in view of the fact that he paid £244.00 on 9 December 1981 and has not yet been given any information as to when the connection will be made.
Within two to three weeks.
732.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has been waiting for a telephone for the past 11 years; and if account will be taken of the fact that other applicants nearby received telephones recently.
It is expected that service will be provided for the person named, who applied in August 1976, within the next six months.
733.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.
It has not been possible to trace an application for the person named. If the Deputy can furnish additional information about the application, e.g. where and when the application was made, further efforts will be made to trace it.
734.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
About the end of this year.
735.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
In about a year.