asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why his Department in many instances take upwards of a week to repair defective phones in the Dublin area; if having regard to his Department's failure to supply the services contracted for during such failures subscribers will receive credit for rentals for such periods; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
340.
The number of cases in which it takes upwards of a week to repair faulty telephones in the Dublin area is usually relatively small. Where such delay occurs it may be for a variety of reasons, such as difficulty in locating the fault, necessity to repair or replace sections of damaged underground cable, difficulty in gaining access to subscribers premises or bad weather. Rebates of rental are not allowed automatically for short periods of faulty service because the expense which would be involved in keeping the necessary records would be out of all proportions to the value of such rebates. Requests made by subscribers for rebates in such circumstances are however sympathetically considered.
341.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the very long delays applicants for telephones for business premises are experiencing even where the amount of work involved in installation would not take more than one hour; and, if so, if he will take immediate steps to have this position improved.
In many parts of the country where the plant and staff position is favourable telephone service is provided within a few months for all applicants. Elsewhere all applications for business telephones are specially considered and those which qualify for priority treatment are attended to, service being usually provided within about two to three months. I am aware that there is heavy delay in some areas in installing telephones to meet business applications which do not qualify for priority treatment.
It would not be desirable to deal with business applications on the basis of giving specially early attention to all cases where the work required was small. In present circumstances, with a waiting list and increasing demand for new lines the works programme must be prepared in such a way as to use the engineering construction force to the best advantage. This is secured by dealing with applications so far as possible by groups or areas, except where special priority is warranted.
Everything possible is being done to expand the resources of the Department in order to improve the position and the allocation earlier this year of £50 million under the Telephone Capital Act, 1969, towards development of the service is evidence of this.
342.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that the telephone service at Listowel telephone exchange, County Kerry, is extremely unsatisfactory and has been so for a considerable time; and when it is proposed to convert this exchange to automatic service.
The telephone service at Listowel had not been satisfactory for some time because the manual exchange was overloaded and there was no accommodation in the post office for the additional equipment required. A new modern type manual exchange was, however, opened in Listowel on the 1st September and I understand that the service is now satisfactory. It is planned to convert Listowel exchange to automatic working within three to four years.
343.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the great dissatisfaction with telephone services among subscribers in the west of Ireland; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to remedy the situation.
I am aware that the standard of telephone service in a number of areas in the west of Ireland is not satisfactory particularly during holiday periods. The main cause of the trouble is shortage of trunk circuits serving the principal centres, coupled with interruptions due to the fact that the circuits are carried on wires over very exposed long routes. A co-axial cable which has been laid from Athlone to Roscommon, Castlerea, Claremorris, Castlebar and Ballina will be brought into service about April next. A trunk cable between Ballina and Belmullet is due to be completed about the middle of next year and one between Galway and Clifden early in 1971. Completion of these cable schemes will eliminate delays and provide a high quality trunk service to all areas in the west. In the meantime every effort will be made to maintain the routes in the best possible condition.