asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs how many applications for telephones are now in his Department; and how many applications were in his Department on 31st January 1965.

The numbers are 14,261 and 13,469 respectively.

Do I take it the number is going up?

The number is always going up. It is a question of how rapidly they may be dealt with.

I would appeal to the Minister to tackle this matter. In my area we have applications five or six years old. The Minister should tell us if he is going to do anything about it.

It must be remembered that over 3,000 telephones were installed in the first three months of the year. Considering there was other work to which technical staff had to be diverted, that was a considerable achievement. It is hoped to step this up considerably.

I put it to the Minister that there are not sufficient technical staff to deal with the installation of telephones and that there are men available, who had training in the Army Signals Corps, many of whom are unemployed and would be glad to have this employment.

The Deputy will probably agree that that is an argument?

It is a good idea.

It may be, but it is not a question.