asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide a public telephone kiosk at Carrigans, County Donegal in view of the general demand for this service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Kiosks.
336.
Provision of a kiosk at Carrigans would not be warranted at present but it is likely that one will be provided towards the end of the five year programme for more rapid extension of kiosk facilities in rural areas.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in order to facilitate the salmon fishermen of Donegal Bay, he will have a telephone kiosk erected at Mullinasole pier, near Donegal town.
The extended kiosk programme for rural areas, which was announced earlier this year, provides for replacement of call office telephones in local post offices by street kiosks in areas where the call office telephone is used to a fair extent. Provision of kiosks in areas such as Mullinasole Pier, where there is no post office, is not envisaged.
An application from the local fishermen for a rented coinbox line at or near the pier would be given special attention.
338.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the position regarding the provision of public telephone kiosks at Lisdoona, Carrickmacross and Stonebridge, Clones, County Monaghan, and at Lobinstown, County Meath.
The extended kiosk programme, which was announced recently, provides for replacement of call office telephones in local post offices by street kiosks in areas where the call office telephone is used to a fair extent. Lobinstown is not likely to be included in the programme as the call office telephone is little used.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Lisdoonan and Stonebridge, where there is no post office is not envisaged.
I understand Monaghan County Council have made application for a number of telephone kiosks in County Monaghan.
Has the Deputy got a question to put?
Yes. Lisdoonan is a few miles from Carrickmacross, with a fair population, a church and a parochial house, but there is no telephone in the area. Accommodation would be provided and every service is available. The post office at Stonebridge was closed in 1965, without making provision for a public telephone. Lobinstown, County Meath, is a centre of population which merits a telephone kiosk. The Minister may not be aware of the facts about the present telephone in Lobinstown. It is in an ordinary room as in most post offices. However, the Minister will appreciate that many more people would use the service if a kiosk were provided, where a person could have a confidential or a private conversation without everybody standing around the room listening to everything said.
I explained in the early part of my reply that we have embarked on a five year kiosk programme under which we will erect a coin box outside call offices where the telephone is used reasonably often. As I said, Lobinstown is not one of those. The position there is exactly the same as in a great number of offices all over the country. Far more use is made of telephones in other areas and it is in areas like that we are providing over the next five years kiosks outside the call offices. The Deputy mentioned that Monaghan County Council had made an application—I was unaware of this —in connection with the provision of telephone facilities. If Monaghan County Council are willing to meet the rental charges in regard to any place where they require a public telephone coin box it will be provided and my Department would be only too happy to do so.
Futher arising from that, there is a particular person in Lisdoonan——
Might I point out to the Deputy that this is Question Time and long statements are not in order.
I have no intention of making a long statement. This is the last supplementary.
It does not sound like one.
There is a particular person in Lisdoonan who has made an application for a telephone. If special representation were made to the Department, would the Minister consider providing a private telephone, if this could be done without too much delay? It would serve the need even without a kiosk.
I certainly can have a look at it. The Deputy has mentioned a private telephone but what he is looking for in the question is a public coin box. I certainly would arrange with the Department to give immediate service to anybody applying for a coin box telephone. If the Deputy communicates with me and gives me the applicant's name I will take this matter up.
I will do that.
339.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is proposed to provide telephone facilities for the people of Roscomroe near Kinnity, County Offaly; and if it is intended to provide a telephone kiosk or coin box facilities in the area.
The extended kiosk programme for rural areas, which was announced earlier this year, provides for replacement of call office telephones in local post offices by street kiosks in areas where the call office telephone is used to a fair extent. Provision of kiosks in areas such as Roscomroe, where there is no post office, is not envisaged.