asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the Ballyduff Upper area, County Waterford, will become an automatic exchange as no new subscriptions are being accepted pending this change.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
257.
In the second half of next year.
258.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the extreme difficulties experienced by subscribers in the Dublin area when trying to telephone subscribers in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Telephone service to certain locations in the west of Ireland has been unsatisfactory due to a shortage of trunk circuits. This is being corrected by the provision of additional trunk circuits between Dublin and Galway which are expected to be in service within the next two weeks.
259.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was asked to pay a £180 reconnection fee, as she previously paid a connection fee when her telephone was first installed; if he agrees that this fee is exhorbitant; and if he will reduce it.
All new subscribers are required to pay a standard connection fee, currently £180. Service is provided on a reconnection basis only when the necessary linework between the applicant's premises and the telephone exchange is in situ in its entirety.
Telephone service was ceased at the address quoted in 1976. The cable pair which served the premises was recovered and used for other purposes before an application for reconnection was received. In the circumstances the application must be treated as one for a new line and the standard connection fee of £180 has to be applied.
260.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and the reasons for the delay.
It is regretted that it has not been possible to provide service so far for the person named because of the volume of engineering work on hands and requiring attention in the Dublin area. It is expected that service will be provided within the next six months or so.
261.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will transfer a telephone service from Dublin to Wexford for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
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.
262.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin, as he has already paid the installation fee.
I understand fully the frustration felt at the delay in providing telephones. However, it is expected that telephone service will be provided for the person named within about a month.