asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the arrangements that have been made for the provision of public telephone kiosks in the Tolka Valley-South Finglas housing estates, Dublin; and when this service will be available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
30.
Arrangements are being made to provide two telephone kiosks in the area in question. Provided no difficulties are encountered in selecting suitable sites and obtaining local authority consent for them, it is hoped to have both kiosks in service within the next 6 months or so.
Could I ask the Minister to give special attention to this area? It is what might be regarded as a new town in which people are living in relative isolation. At the moment for 400 or 500 families there is no telephone kiosk within about a mile and a half. Would the Minister talk in terms of the same period he has mentioned for doctors and Deputies, a period of two months rather than of six?
I am aware that extensive housing development is taking place in this area and I am certainly concerned at the need to provide for the residents in it as fast as can reasonably be done. There are kiosks within about half a mile of the entrances to certain schemes and about one mile from others. In one case the kiosk is over one mile away. It is considered that one additional kiosk to cater for existing development in the area is now warranted and that a second kiosk will be warranted within the next 12 months. It is proposed to proceed with the provision of both kiosks now and arrangements are accordingly being made for the selection of suitable sites. There may be some difficulty in obtaining permanent sites for the kiosks at this stage because of the undeveloped state of roads and so on serving the scheme, but temporary sites will, if necessary, be selected. Provided local authority consent for the sites to be developed is forthcoming quickly, it is hoped to have both kiosks in service within the next six months or so and it may be necessary later to provide further telephone kiosks in the area.
Would the Minister agree it would have been advisable for the officers of his Department to discuss with the local authorities a year and a half or maybe two years ago the development of this area and that the provision of telephone kiosks should appear on the plans from the beginning?
I think there is force in what the Deputy says but he will appreciate that I cannot accept responsibility for what was done or what was not done two years ago or even one and a half years ago.
Would the Minister not agree that with his magic one would be justified in thinking that the shortcomings of two-and-a-half years ago would have disappeared rather than worsened?
Does the Minister say he is taking no initiative of his own?