asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of male night telephone operators at present employed in Dublin city; whether it is proposed to increase this number during the coming year; and, if so, by how many.

There are 269 male night telephone operators employed in Dublin Central Telephone Exchange at present and a further 30 are being recruited within the next few days.

It is not possible to say at this stage whether it will be necessary to increase this number during 1965.