asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that considerable difficulties and disruption of business have been caused to telephone subscribers in Dublin, owing to the present inordinate delays in obtaining a reply from the exchange when making trunk calls, and of the delays which have also occurred in making telephone calls from Dublin to Wicklow; and if he will take immediate steps to investigate the cause of these delays and to remedy them.

I am aware that Dublin subscribers have recently been meeting with unusual delay in obtaining a reply from the exchange. The provision of additional circuits on most main routes, which is in hands, is expected to effect a considerable improvement in the service.

A micro wave radio link which will provide ample circuiting between Dublin and Wicklow is under construction and is expected to be available for service in 3 to 4 months' time.

Would the Minister even put the automatic woman on some of these lines to tell us we will not get an answer?

If you had put in the money and had not sacked the men from the post office, it would be all right.

That is an unworthy statement from the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, who is usually a reasonable man.

You sacked the men working in the post office. You sent them to England—almost 80 of them.

Do not make a show of yourself.

Why did Fianna Fáil not take them back?

You had not a shilling to put into the telephone service.

Look up the requisitions from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.

We put in £10 million. It takes four years to plan telephone development.

The Minister should acquire a sense of humour.