asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the considerable loss of business to his Department and inconvenience to the business community by reason of the very high deposits demanded by his Department as a condition precedent to the installation of a telephone service; if he will state the factors taken into consideration in determining the size of deposits demanded and the redress available to an applicant aggrieved by the size of deposit demanded.
Written Answers. - Telephone Installation Deposits.
132.
I do not accept that the deposits which new telephone subscribers are required to lodge with my Department are exorbitant. In most cases they are very modest. The main factors taken into account in determining the size of deposits are the type of business in which the person is engaged, the element of financial risk involved and the likely call user. An applicant who is aggrieved by the size of the deposit requested may appeal against the decision. It is standard practice to consider reducing a deposit on request about 12 months from the date of provision of service.