Vol. 346 No. 2
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that there are no additional lines available for Ballybofey exchange, County Donegal, despite numerous applications, including requests for business lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
304.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is proposed to automate Ballybofey telephone exchange, County Donegal.
305.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing additional telephone service in the Ballybofey/Stranorlar area, County Donegal.
I propose to take questions Nos. 303, 304 and 305 together.
The present manual exchange at Ballybofey which caters for Ballybofey and Stranorlar is operating at almost full capacity and there is no room for an additional switchboard. The few remaining spare terminations at the existing exchange are being reserved to meet high priority applications.
A new automatic exchange is expected to be brought into service at Ballybofey during the second half of next year. I am sorry that it will not be possible to meet applications for telephone service, other than high priority applications, until then.
306.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a telephone service will be provided shortly for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin as the application was made three years ago and service is urgently required for business purposes.
Service will be provided for the person named as soon as it is possible to do so but it is unlikely that the necessary cabling can be completed for about six months.
I very much regret the delay in providing telephones. However by the end of 1984, the vast bulk of telephone applications will be met on demand.
307.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
I very much regret that it has not been possible to provide service so far for the person named because of the volume of work on hands and requiring attention in the County Galway area.
Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that the necessary engineering work will be completed until about the middle of next year.
308.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in converting Edgeworthstown exchange (County Longford) to automatic service; if the equipment has been diverted elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It was intended, in an earlier plan, that conversion of Edgeworthstown manual exchange to automatic working would be by means of a cross-bar type exchange parented on Granard switching centre. The necessary equipment was ordered on that basis. However, arising from the proposed early use of digital exchange equipment at Longford and Mullingar, it was decided that the most advantageous course would be to convert Edgeworthstown by means of digital equipment, thus avoiding the necessity for a new underground cabling scheme from Edgeworthstown to Granard. A cable suitable for digital transmission systems has been provided between Edgeworthstown and Longford and will also cater for conversion of Ardagh and Rathowen exchanges.
It is expected that the conversion work will be completed in the second half of next year.
The cross-bar equipment originally ordered for Edgeworthstown has been deployed to an area where development by this technology is continuing.
