asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average number of poles to the mile on main roads in Ireland.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Poles.
49.
About 30 telephone poles per mile of pole route.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the Minister to consider putting more of them underground for the protection of scenic areas?
That is a separate question.
(Cavan): Does the Deputy want to put the poles underground?
The telephone lines, naturally.
Does the ecological expert for the Opposition realise what it would cost?
A serious situation has arisen with regard to the teachers' training college——
To what is the Deputy advertising? He did not do me the courtesy of advising me he was going to raise a matter here.
The Ceann Comhairle knows I am always very deferential to the Chair but a serious position has arisen in Carysfort teachers' training college. The students are not attending lectures. I think the House should take notice of it.
The Deputy is not being as kind to the Chair as he implies. He should have given me notice of his intention to raise the matter and I would have been pleased to communicate with him and assist him in every way possible within the procedure of this House.
My purpose was not to show a lack of respect for the Chair but if positions harden and the matter gets out of hand——
The Deputy should give proper notice of a matter of that kind.