asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why telephone lines which are no longer used are left up for considerable periods as claims are made against the local authorities when they are damaged by vandals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Line Damage.
17.
The recovery of disused telephones lines is generally programmed to fit in with other engineering work in the area. Instructions were issued some time ago, however, that wires on abandoned routes should be recovered specially so as to reduce the danger of theft. Claims are not made against local authorities in the event of disused plant being damaged by vandals.
I am afraid the Minister is not quite aware of the situation with regard to this matter. Is he not aware that claims for disused telephone wires which were stolen have been made against practically every local authority; that every county council, including the one of which I am a member, have had to pay compensation to the Minister's Department for wires which had been stolen and which had been abandoned by his Department for years and had not been taken down but which suddenly became very valuable when they were stolen by tinkers or somebody like that?
That is not my information. The position is that if any of our property in use is damaged and where we have to carry out repairs, yes, we have claimed against the local authority in that regard. My information is that we do not claim in regard to disused equipment. The Deputy says that charges have been made to local authorities all over the place and especially to his local authority and my information does not convey that. If the Deputy has any feelings or any individual information in that regard I would be happy to hear from him.
May I take it that if I can give evidence that not alone this year but over the past number of years claims have been paid by Meath County Council for disused telephone wires which have been damaged or stolen his Department will refund the very heavy expenses which have been paid from the rates in this regard?
I am claiming——
I am asking the Minister for "Yes" or "No" on that. I want "Yes" or "No".
It seems to be a separate question.
(Interruptions.)
You are only making smoke signals. For goodness sake will you shut up?
The sooner you get out the better.
May I have an answer from the Minister?
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy made a remark about the tinkers a few months ago——
You were not so kind to the tinkers in Rahoon and you gave a new word to the English language.
A Cheann Comhairle, I am asking Deputy Tully to explain what he has said — he has attributed to me——
(Interruptions.)
Will the Chair tell the Parliamentary Secretary to sit down and have some manners?
The Deputy made a most derogatory remark about the travelling people of this country by insinuating that where articles were missing or stolen it was the tinkers who were responsible.
Deputies
Chair.
Who is in charge of the House?
In reply to the Deputy, if he gives me instances I will look into them. I do not think it is even proper for him to say he wants a definite "Yes" or "No" answer. I am quite willing to look into the cases and if he gives me specific instances I will communicate with him.
The Minister——
The Deputy has been allowed three supplementaries.
Over the last three weeks we have been told that there were hundreds of questions and there was a rush through Question Time; now we have 17 questions and everybody who attempted to ask more than two supplementaries was knocked down by the Chair.
That is not so.
The Minister said that it is not true that we had to pay for wire which was stolen after it was abandoned and I say it is true. All I want to know is if I give him evidence that we have paid out of the rates for wire which was abandoned or damaged will the Minister agree that that money should be refunded to the ratepayers of County Meath?
That seems to be a separate question.
(Interruptions.)
My reply is that I will look into it.
That is a cod.