asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the tourist attractions of the Glencolmcille area, County Donegal; and, if so, if he will have a public telephone kiosk erected in the village of Cashel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Kiosks.
94.
Provision of a kiosk of Cashel would not be warranted at present but one will be provided under the current five-year programme for extension of kiosk facilities in rural areas.
95.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange for the erection of a telephone kiosk at Derrahann, Lanesboro, County Longford to serve the Bord na Móna housing scheme at this address.
Provision of kiosks in areas such as Derrahann where there is no post office is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.
I understand that the normal criterion applied by the Minister's Department is the number of calls made from the call office in the area. There is no call office in this locality. There is a large Bord na Móna centre there and there is serious inconvenience to the people. Perhaps the Minister would make an exception in the case of this area?
I understand that there is an estate of 30 Bord na Móna houses there with a population of about 130 people and that there is no village whatever there. There is no post office and I understand there are about 20 or 25 houses within a one-mile radius of Derrahaun. I understand that Bord na Móna make available a public line to the people during normal business hours. I understand the possibility of the Bord na Móna telephone being made available for use outside business hours will be taken up with Bord na Móna but my Department seem to be reasonably sure that we cannot erect a public kiosk there at present.
Would the Minister not agree that the fact that he has given us the number of houses there and the fact that the area lacks a post office justify the request for a kiosk for this comparatively isolated area so that people will be within easy reach of a telephone to make contact with doctors or others when the need arises, and that it is unsatisfactory to have to rely on the Bord na Móna phone which, I understand is behind a locked gate inside an office and special permission has to be obtained to get access to it? In view of the comparative isolation of the area it would be a wonderful amenity for these people to have a telephone.
We shall have another look at this case.
96.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a public telephone kiosk erected at Palatine, County Carlow.
A public telephone kiosk will be erected shortly at Palatine, County Carlow.