asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications for telephones outstanding in the county constituency of Meath; and when service is likely to be provided.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Applications for Telephones.
77.
There are about 230 applications for telephones in the area in question. About 70 of these will be cleared within the next few months and a further 100 by the end of the year. The latter figure includes some 40 applications in the An Uaimh exchange area which are held up pending the completion of a major underground re-cabling scheme in the town.
78.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in respect of Kerry South the number of applicants for telephones on the waiting list, and the number of those who will be supplied during the present year.
There are about 100 applications for telephones in the area in question. About half of these will be cleared within the next few months and the majority of the remainder by the end of the year.
79.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applicants for telephones on the waiting list in the constituency of East Galway, and the number of those who will be supplied during the present year.
In the area in question there are about 130 applications for telephones of which about 100 will be cleared during the current year.
Could the Minister say why is it there is a waiting list in every county in Ireland? Why are extra staff not engaged on it? Is it a question of finance?
There is not a waiting list in the sense of people waiting for them.
Two or three years.
The numbers waiting for three years, two years or one year are very small.
There are 200 in my county.
The numbers are very small. I explained here on several occasions that this list was continuously being added to by new applications coming in. In 1962, there were 15,600 new applications and we provided 14,800 new lines.
In answer to the Deputy's further supplementary, we are adding to the staff. In the ensuing year and the year after, we hope to be in a position to connect new telephones at the rate of 20,000 a year.
It is nearly time.