asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total number of telephones installed in County Mayo each year for the past ten years; the total number of applicants who have not yet received service; and the estimated number expected to be connected to service during 1978.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
278.
The following are approximate numbers of telephones installed in County Mayo for the years indicated:
|
Year |
Number of telephones installed |
|
1973 |
540 |
|
1974 |
550 |
|
1975 |
700 |
|
1976 |
810 |
|
1977 |
990 |
Statistics are not readily available for earlier years. The number of waiting applications at 31 December 1977, was about 950. The connection target for 1978 is 1,150.
279.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will grant approval for the erection of telephone kiosks at the railway station in Castlebar and at St. Patrick's Avenue, Castlebar, County Mayo.
The use likely to be made of telephone kiosks at the places mentioned would not be sufficient to justify their provision.
280.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will grant approval for the erection of a telephone kiosk at Binghamstown, Ballina, County Mayo.
The use made of the call office telephone in the post office at Binghamstown is not sufficient to warrant provision of a kiosk there at present.
281.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the anxiety among a large section of the population adjacent to Corran, Leap, County Cork, for the siting of a public telephone kiosk there; and if he is willing to arrange for its provision.
Kiosks are not provided in places such as Corran where there is no post office.
282.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone service will be supplied to an applicant of long standing (name supplied) in Dublin.
Terms are being quoted to the person in question. Telephones are normally installed within about three months of completion of an agreement.
283.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average delay in having a new telephone installed in applicants' private houses in Wexford, Enniscorthy, New Ross, Gorey and the remainder of County Wexford; the reasons for the delay; when these delays will be eliminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I regret that the precise information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the average waiting time to date of residence line applications at present on the waiting list is approximately as follows:
|
Wexford |
6 months |
|
Enniscorthy |
11 months |
|
New Ross |
11 months |
|
Gorey |
7 months |
|
Remainder of County Wexford |
13 months |
The reason for the delay in installing telephones in the areas mentioned and elsewhere is that the Department's resources of manpower, plant and buildings are not yet adequate to overtake arrears and cope with current demand. The development plan prepared in connection with the Telephone Capital Act 1977, which provides for investment of a further £350 million in the telephone service should go a long way towards eliminating delays experienced at present.