asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that Blarney-Tower-Cloghroe, County Cork, is fast becoming a built up area; and what plans he has to cater for the increased numbers who will be seeking telephones.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
239.
Arrangements have been made to extend the automatic exchange in Blarney within the next four months. Additional equipment which will increase the capacity of the exchange substantially has been ordered and is expected to be installed in 1972.
240.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications for telephones in his Department from the Rathmore area. County Kerry; and when these telephones will be installed.
Arrangements have already been made to provide service for two of the 13 applicants for telephones in the Rathmore area. It is expected that terms will be quoted to a further nine during the course of the next two months or so and the telephones will be installed within about two to three months of the agreements being signed and the necessary advance payments made. It is not possible to forecast with any degree of accuracy at this stage when telephones will be installed for the two remaining applicants.
241.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when Killorglin, County Kerry, will be changed over to an automatic telephone exchange as the industrial firms are finding communications extremely difficult.
It is planned to convert Killorglin telephone exchange to automatic working within four to five years. Automatic telex service is available at Killorglin. I am not aware that the industrial firms are finding communications extremely difficult.
242.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs how many people are waiting to have telephones installed on the "3" and "4" exchanges in Cork city; and what steps his Department is taking to see that these phones are installed as soon as possible.
243.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in having telephones installed in the Bishopstown, Blackpool and Mayfield areas of Cork city.
I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. There are 160 applicants waiting for telephones in Hettyfield, the "3" exchange area, including 13 in course of provision; and 310 in Dennehy's Cross, the "4" exchange area.
A major extension of Dennehy's Cross exchange which serves the Bishopstown area is being installed at present and it is expected that the work will be completed in about three months. The waiting applications will then be attended to as quickly as possible.
Service will be provided for about 40 of the waiting applicants at Hettyfield when installation of an interim extension of the exchange is completed in about four or five months. The remaining applications will be attended to when the main extension of the exchange is completed about three or four months later.
Telephones are in course of provision for one of the eight applicants in Blackpool and for six of the 14 applicants in Mayfield. It is expected that the remainder will be attended to during the course of the next six months or so. The reason for the delay is pressure of engineering work in the area.