asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs at what date it is proposed to provide an automatic telephone exchange at Clonmel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clonmel Telephone Exchange.
90.
It is expected that automatic telephone service will be provided at Clonmel in about 5 years.
Is that delay in providing the service in Clonmel due to the reduction in capital provided in 1956?
Yes, and I can tell the Deputy——
And, I take it, the telephone development in 1982 will be due to the reduction of capital in 1956?
Clonmel is not included in the two- to three-year programme at present being carried out. In 1957, they tried to solve the difficulty. New switchboard equipment was put into Clonmel. The use of that switchboard equipment had to be taken into consideration also. Because of the decisions that were taken then, and because of the reduction in capital, the exchanges at Clonmel, Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow and Tralee have had to be postponed until after the two- or three-years' programme is completed.
Does the Minister not agree that that is a shocking delay for the installation of a telephone exchange in the capital town of Tipperary? Can he do nothing to short-circuit it?
I have already answered that question. But, I can tell the Deputy there is an underground cable from Clonmel to Waterford, costing over £100,000, in the course of being laid and when it is laid the difficulty existing in Clonmel in relation to traffic out of Clonmel will be almost solved.
I hope so.