asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether, in view of the demand in the area of Upton Post Office for a night telephone service, he will supply such service or alternatively state the reasons why such service was cut off from certain persons in the area.

The hours of service at Upton exchange are the standard hours for exchanges of its size. The cost of providing night telephone service from the exchange at Upton would be out of all proportion to the additional revenue to be earned during the night hours and would not be warranted.

During the war night service was given to a subscriber at Upton for defence reasons by switching his line through at night in conjunction with a Garda line. On review, in 1949, the facility was withdrawn because the special circumstances which justified the provision of the night service in this manner originally no longer existed.

Would there be any objection to giving that individual that service again? It would not cost the State anything?

The information I have is that the gentleman who had this service is the only one who made an application.