asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when work will commence on the erection of the new post office telephone exchange in Fermoy, County Cork.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Service.
48.
It is planned to have work on the new exchange undertaken in about a year or so. When the extension to the existing exchange at present in progress is completed, there will be adequate capacity to meet requirements for up to three years and the new exchange will not be needed until then.
Is it true that this work had been sanctioned by the previous Minister? Had the work been sanctioned——
I must confess I did not hear what the Deputy said—his voice is not carrying.
I have not been hearing what the Minister said. I understand that the work on this exchange had been sanctioned by the previous Government. My question was, when will the work be commenced?
(Limerick East): Could we have the translation service?
I do not think there is any need for that kind of statement.
49.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide a telex service at all sub-post office situated in towns with a population in excess of 500 people.
It is assumed that what the Deputy has in mind is the provision of public telex call office facilities.
Public telex call office facilities are provided at present only at tele-communications headquarters in Dublin. It is planned to provide them at the seven district sales offices outside Dublin over the next year or so. The demand for these facilities is limited and it is expected that the use made of them will not be such as to justify their provision at other centres. However, the matter will be kept under review in the light of experience of their use at the new centres where it is proposed to provide them.
Is the Minister aware that throughout rural Ireland people have been waiting for a telex service for many years and does he not think it would be in the best interests of industrial development to have a telex service in all sub-post offices?
I am well aware of the inadequacies of the telephone and telex services in rural areas. I come from an area which the deputy's administration neglected totally. The problem is not of my making. The Deputy's Government refused to undertake the provision of a proper telecommunications infrastructure — they did not recognise the need for it. It is expected that the service will be provided next year.
Is the Minister aware that a company known as Telectron devised a telex which can be operated from the manual telephone exchanges? If so, would he notify the allegedly forlorn people of Donegal that they can have a telex system in the same way as the illustrious people of Dublin who can have everything, as the Minister insinuates, while the people of Donegal have nothing? Can he tell us the total amount of money spent by the previous Government in Donegal over the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980? He will never compare with that in his time in office — £18½ million in 1980.
I wonder——
The Minister did not answer my question.
The Deputy answered it himself.
In view of the information given to the Minister of State by Deputy Killilea, who is the authority on telex and telephone systems having regard to the work he did in the 18 months he was in the Department, would the Minister not agree that this would be a very good service if it were provided from local sub-post offices?
I could not agree more. In all probability we will have the service in operation in about a year's time. If what Deputy Killilea says is a fact, why did not he put it into the provinces?
We did. We were doing it until we left office.
Ceist 50.
The Minister does not understand the Department and his fatal error is that he pretends he does.
Arising out of Question No. 49——
We have gone on to Question No. 50.
50.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his Department will provide auto-manual services at Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, when the area becomes automatic.
51.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the plans his Department have for the deployment of staff when Carrick-on-Shannon exchange, County Leitrim, goes automatic.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
Operator services will be retained at Carrick-on-Shannon on an interim basis after automatic service is introduced in the area. The volume of operator-assisted traffic there will, however, be greatly reduced under automatic conditions and there will, therefore, be a substantial reduction in the number of staff.
Day staff who become surplus to requirements when the exchange is converted will have the option of transferring to another exchange or resigning. Staff who opt to resign will be paid compensation and transferred staff will be paid a resettlement allowance. Night staff are recruited locally for specific exchanges and are mainly part-time. It may be possible to offer a small number of them employment elsewhere. Other night staff will be paid compensation.
Can the Minister tell us how many telephonists will be retained in Carrick-on-Shannon? I believe he gave a commitment a fortnight ago that they would be retained there and that they would get an auto-manual service.
I said every sympathetic consideration would be given.
So they will get sympathy?
I met a deputation of telephonists and other people from that area a fortnight ago. I listened to what they had to say. I told them if it were physically possible to retain a local exchange in Carrick-on-Shannon, as an interim measure, to facilitate the people in the locality that would be looked at.
The Minister said that transfers would be provided to Sligo for a number of staff. Can he tell us how many staff will be transferred to Sligo? Could he also tell us how much redundancy money will be paid to the staff who will be forced to resign.
That is a very important question.
No one will be forced to go anywhere. They will be offered options. Those who opt to go to certain places will be facilitated as far as possible. The remuneration is the most generous negotiated by any trade union with a Department since the foundation of this State.
What is it?
That information has not been asked for.
It is coming up tomorrow.
Ceist 52.
It has been agreed by the trade unions concerned and by management. Everyone is pretty happy about it.
Tell us what it is.
I can give the Deputy the information if he wants it.
I have called Ceist 52.
There is a vendetta against Clifden.
The Minister said a financial contribution will be given to those who resign. He has refused to say what percentage they will be given. Am I right in saying the proposed terms are that they will be allowed six weeks pay for every year of service? Is that right or wrong?
He does not know.
There is far more to it than that. That is true.
That is the big compensation.
We must get on to the next question.
I asked the Minister two questions and I have been allowed to ask only three supplementaries. At least I am entitled to——
The Deputy is not entitled to ask any supplementary questions. That is at the discretion of the Chair.
I could give the Deputy the information but it is not customary for the House to be given information about agreements between trade unions and staff. If he wants the information I will give it to him.
Ceist 52.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to raise the subject matter of this question on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
52.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if all the necessary tests on the new telephone meters have been completed; and if meters are now available for installation, where that has been requested.
Examination of this matter is continuing. It has advanced to a stage where tenders were invited and are now being considered. It is hoped to have meters available in the first half of next year.
Good.
53.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason the computerised directory inquiry service which had been tested and which was ready to be introduced last May has not been implemented.
While the equipment to enable the service to be introduced has been available in a number of centres for some months, one of the staff organisations concerned requested certain clarifications and assurances on operational matters following the introduction of the service in Drogheda last July. Discussions on these points were protracted and concluded only recently. The introduction of the system has now resumed and I expect it will be in service at all designated centres within three months.
Did the Minister say operational problems gave rise to the delay in introducing the service?
Yes, after assurances on operational matters.
Is it not the truth of the situation that industrial relations problems gave rise to the non-introduction of the service?
Where do we draw the line?
Were there industrial relations problems? Answer the question.
I have answered the question.
I asked the Minister a straight question. Did industrial relations problems give rise to the non-introduction of the service?
Surely the Deputy appreciates that operational matters are dealt with on a day-to-day basis by the trade unions. Of their very nature industrial relations must be involved.
Would the Minister of State agree that decisions taken by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs gave rise to the industrial relations problems which did not allow this service to come into operation? That is the truth of the matter.
Ceist 54.
He does not know anything about it.
I have called Ceist 54.