asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the telephone directory for 1983 will be published; and if he will take steps in the future to ensure that the directory is published at the beginning of the year.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Telephone Directory .
5.
: Distribution of Part One of the 1983 Telephone Directory commenced on Monday 18 April. It is expected that Part Two of the Directory will be distributed in June. The date of circulation of the telephone directory is dependent on a number of factors including planned developments of the telephone network which may require extensive number changes. The aim is to have the most up-to-date information available to telephone users; there would be no particular merit in having the directories published at the beginning of the year compared with the existing arrangements.
: Having regard to the fact that some years ago, I understand the telephone directory was published at the beginning of the year could that practice not be reintroduced?
: There is no particular advantage really in publishing the directory at the beginning of the year rather than in the middle of the year because it is going to last for a year anyhow. It involves a certain anomaly in having the year out of date, if you like.
: Most other countries do not publish one every year; they do not in the Six Counties.
: Very often it is published to coincide with a lot of number changes. The idea is to have it as up-to-date as possible; that is the thing to be aimed for.