asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications in his Department for telephone installation; and when these installations will be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Installations.
23.
Excluding 2,688 telephones in course of installation there were 2,320 applicants waiting for telephone service at the end of last month. It is expected that these applicants, all of whom applied for service within the last 12 months will be provided with service by the end of the year.
24.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will take steps to reduce in rural areas the long period between an application for a telephone and its installation.
Telephone applications from rural areas are catered for by periodic clearances of all applicants in individual exchange areas and although under this system some applicants have to wait longer than others experience has shown that the best overall results are obtained from such bulk clearances. The demand for telephones in rural areas has shown a marked increase since the reduced rates were announced last July but the bulk of these applicants reside a mile or more from their exchanges and the provision of service for them will involve considerable line work. The connection rate for new telephones has been stepped up over the past few months and arrangements are in hand to increase it still further. Every effort is being and will continue to be made to reduce the waiting time for new telephones in rural areas as much as possible.