asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will explain the overloading of telephone lines in the South Central Dublin areas; and the reasons for the breakdowns in service to subscribers, particularly those on medical priority A telephones.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
135.
I understand that the Deputy's concern is about faults on telephones in the Merrion Square area. Subscribers in the area had difficulty in making calls to Dún Laoghaire in the period 28 January to 27 February because of an underground cable fault but there have been no other major interruptions in service in the area this year. Tests have shown that in general the quality of service in the area is reasonably good and that there are no serious problems with over-loading of lines.
There has been delay in repairing underground cable faults in the Dublin area particularly over the last few months because of the extensive flooding and snow damage and because faults in underground cables are time-consuming to repair. Priority attention is given as far as possible to faults on doctors' lines but, where a major cable break affecting a large number of subscribers occurs, the extent to which doctors and other priority categories can be given preference in the restoration of service is limited. A special programme of preventive maintenance is in hands for the entire 01 area and this will improve the service gradually for all subscribers.
136.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the amount of outstanding telephone accounts which are more than (a) 12 months and (b) six months overdue.
The billing system does not identify arrears included in ongoing accounts by the period to which they relate. It would not be possible therefore to give the precise information sought, without a disproportionate expenditure of staff time. However, of the £56 millions billed in a recent quarter, it is estimated that £500,000 was outstanding for more than 12 months and £1 million outstanding for more than six months.