asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the estimated annual cost which would be incurred as a result of the provision of link-call facilities at Valentia for the improvement of radio-telephone communications with ships at sea and the annual number of calls which it is estimated would be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Valentia Telephone Link-call Facilities.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he has received a communication from the Cork Harbour Commissioners regarding the existing difficulties of radio-telephone communications with ships at sea and advocating the provision of link-call facilities at Valentia; whether such calls must at present be routed through Lands-End, and whether, in view of the fact that it is desirable that this country should have its own service, he will make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
Representations have been made by the Cork Harbour Commissioners for the provision of link-call facilities with ships at sea at Valentia Coast Radio Station and they have been informed that the service would not at present be warranted.
It would not, in fact, be practicable to provide telephone link-call facilities with the type of equipment at present in use at Valentia Coast Radio Station. Renewal of this equipment is now due and in this connection it may be possible to provide facilities for link-telephone calls on an economical basis in the new equipment. The matter will be examined in due course. Meanwhile it is not possible to estimate either the additional cost that would be involved or the additional traffic that might ensue.
Link-telephone calls between this country and ships at sea are routed via British radio stations. The number of calls made is negligible—only about two or three per week. These link-telephone calls, as well as foreign telephone calls generally, are routed via the British system because it is more economical to handle the small volume of calls in that way.