asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a new telephone installation will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford.
Written Answers. - Telephone Service.
365.
A survey is being carried out to ascertain when it will be possible to provide telephone service for the person named. The applicant will be contacted as soon as the result of the survey is known.
366.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
It is expected that service will be provided for the person named within about six to eight weeks.
I very much regret the delay in providing telephones. However, by the end of 1984 the vast bulk of applications will be met on demand.
367.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange to have a telephone service repaired immediately for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 14.
Service has been restored.
368.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason telephone accounts in Brosna and Knocknagoshel, County Kerry, have increased out of all proportion since the exchanges there went automatic; and if he will make a statement on the matter as it is obvious that serious error exists in the issuing of such accounts.
Brosna exchange was convered to automatic working on 7 September 1983. The most recent telephone accounts issued early in October to subscribers connected to this exchange included charges for about a fortnight's calls made after the conversion. The average amount charged for per subscriber in these accounts was less than in the corresponding quarter 1982 when increases in charges since then are discounted.
Knocknagoshel was converted to automatic working on 22 June 1983. The most recent accounts issued in October 1983 to subscribers connected to this exchange included charges for a full quarter's calls made after the conversion took place. The average amount charged for operator-assisted calls per subscriber decreased by almost 59 per cent as compared with the corresponding quarter in 1982. But the overall amount charged per subscriber for calls showed an increase of 29 per cent.
Clearly what happened was that subscribers used the STD facility extensively without adverting to the length or cost of the calls. It has been the common experience both here and in other countries that conversion of exchanges to automatic working or extension of STD facilities almost invariably result in an increase in call traffic. Knocknagoshel was no exception.