asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if, arising out of the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 10 of 11 November 1987 he will give the figures for the number of occasions during each of the months September, October, November and December to date 1987 that the Ballygirreen HF Volmet was off the air and the reason staff are not recruited to prevent this situation arising in view of the fact that there is no net cost to the Exchequer.
Written Answers. - Ballygirreen HF Volmet.
87.
In September, October, and November 1987, broadcasts on the HF Volmet at Ballygirreen were suspended completely on 16, 14 and six occasions, respectively. The broadcasts were made at hourly intervals instead of every 30 minutes on 15, 14 and 17 occasions respectively.
From 1 to 11 December, no complete cessation of broadcasts occurred but there were four occasions when broadcasts were on an hourly basis instead of every 30 minutes.
The interruption of the Volmet service is in consequence of the general restrictions on Civil Service staffing and overtime.
The Government's embargo on the filling of vacancies and their restrictions on overtime are aimed at cutting public expenditure throughout the public service. It is difficult to make any exceptions to the general rule without breaching the principle.