asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applicants outstanding for telephones in County Carlow; and when it is expected they will be dealt with.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Carlow Telephone Applicants.
83.
The number is 175. Some 25 of these will be given service in the next few months. Because of the necessary concentration on urgent long-term work in the interest of subscribers generally, it will not be possible for some time to clear the remaining applications.
How many did the Minister say will be cleared?
Some 25 will be given service within the next few months.
What about the balance?
Some progress is being made on the trunk circulating work in the area but the amount of work still requiring attention is such that I cannot at this stage indicate when the general clearance of applications will be resumed. However, the position will be kept under review and will be brought forward as early as possible.
Is the Minister aware that 18 months ago I was told in answer to a similar question that there were 120 applications and it was expected they would be cleared by the end of the year, which was last year?
There were new applications in the meantime.
Have the 120 been cleared? I do not believe they have.
Not all of them but a number of them would have been cleared.