asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will list the categories that receive priority treatment in telephone installations.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
208.
The main categories to which priority treatment in telephone installations is afforded are: Members of the Oireachtas, diplomats and chairmen of local authorities; public services including central and local authorities; persons engaged in health services including hospitals, doctors and district nurses; clergymen engaged on parochial duties; industrial, commercial and other undertakings providing a fair amount of employment; businesses and professions having particular need for telephone service — for example, travel agencies, registered hotels and guest houses, solicitors, full-time journalists; national unions and associations; existing subscribers moving to new premises; old age pensioners living alone who qualify under the telephone rental subsidy scheme operated by the Department of Social Welfare; members of local authorities; other applications in which really exceptional need can be shown for example on health or distress grounds.
209.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will install a second telephone line at the County Hospital, Ennis, County Clare, immediately in view of the urgency of telephone calls at times when the existing line is engaged.
There is no record of an application for an additional line at the County Hospital in Ennis. The hospital can be given an additional line if it requires one.
210.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the concern within his Department regarding the irregular manner in which trainee installers are being recruited; and the reason successful applicants are not being recruited in the order of merit decided by the interview board as has been the case in the past.
I am not aware of concern within my Department in regard to the procedure being followed for the appointment of trainee installers. All applicants who have passed the required tests for the posts of trainee installer will be offered appointments.
212.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether any reduction has occurred in the number of those awaiting telephone installation; if any arrangement has been made to ensure that business expansion is not affected by lack of telephone facilities; whether he has drawn up any scheme of priorities in the installation of telephone facilities and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There has been no reduction in the number of waiting applications for telephone service. While the rate of connections this year is much higher than ever before, demand continues to be buoyant and a reduction in the size of the waiting list is not expected for about a year or so.
The importance of an efficient telecommunications service to the industrial and commercial development of the country is fully appreciated and was a major consideration in influencing the Government to embark on the current accelerated telephone development programme.
Priority attention is accorded to applications by industrial, commercial and other undertakings providing a fair amount of employment and other businesses and professions having particular need for telephone service. My Department keep in close contact with the Industrial Development Authority on a continuing basis so that timely action can be taken to meet the telecommunications needs of new industries being established. Industrialists and other business users are encouraged to give as much advance notice as possible of their requirements so that provision can be made to meet them in time.
213.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average time which elapses between a subscriber receiving a telephone number and that number being communicated to the directory inquiries section of his department.
The average time varies from place to place but, in general, it is of the order of ten to 14 days. In recent months, however, the time may have been greater than this in some cases because of the high number of connections. Ways in which the time could be reduced substantially are being examined and it is expected that it will be possible to make some improvements quickly.
In addition, a new computer-based directory inquiry service will come into operation next year and this will ensure that the telephone numbers of new subscribers are available to the directory inquiry operators within 24 hours of connection.