asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is intended to install additional equipment in the Walkinstown telephone exchange, Dublin, so as to make available extra telephone lines for the industrial estate in the area; and whether he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Walkinstown (Dublin) Telephone Exchange.
69.
Provision of some telephone lines in the Walkinstown industrial estate has been delayed because of cable shortages. It is expected that all of these lines will be provided within the next two to three months. However, the switching capacity of the Walkinstown automatic exchange is overtaxed by the heavy volume of call traffic at certain times. Work on installation of the additional equipment required to cater for the traffic was to have been completed this month but it has been suspended since 1st February as a result of strike action by the equipment contractor's staff. If the strike is prolonged it will, I regret, be necessary to defer the provision of additional telephone lines in the Walkinstown exchange area in order not to worsen the service for existing subscribers.