asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state, in relation to the telephone kiosk referred to in his answer to Question No. 493 of 7 March 1978, where such a kiosk will be sited; and when it will be provided.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
351.
A site for the kiosk has not been selected yet. It is hoped to provide the kiosk later this year or early next year.
352.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that there is a waiting time for the installation of telephones of two to three years in rural areas in Sligo-Leitrim; and the action he proposes to take on the matter.
The average waiting time to date of applications at present on the waiting list in the Sligo Engineering District, which includes the Sligo-Leitrim area, is 14 months. A longer waiting time is likely at exchanges in rural areas because of the more extensive linework necessary to meet applications in such areas.
The general reason for delay in meeting applications 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.
353.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the major engineering works planned by his Department in County Meath in the next year in connection with telephone applications; and the number of new telephone connections for which provision is being made in the next year in each exchange area covering the county.
A new exchange at Dunboyne and extensions to existing exchanges at Navan and Wilkinstown are scheduled to be brought into service within the next few months. It is expected that a mobile exchange will be provided in Navan in about a year's time. Exchange building works are in progress at Navan and Ceanannus Mór.
Cabling schemes are either planned or in progress in Navan, Tara, Ceanannus Mór, Oldcastle, Wilkinstown and Hill of Down areas and ducting for future cabling schemes is planned for Tara, Trim, Dunderry, Athboy and Ballyvore.
The 1978 connection target for County Meath is 1,300. Connection targets are not drawn up for individual exchanges of which there are 36 in County Meath.