asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he proposes to provide a telephone kiosk at Lobinstown, County Meath; and, if so, when.

A kiosk is not considered to be warranted at present, but the situation may change when automatic telephone working is introduced in the area in the next couple of months. The matter will be reexamined then.

Would the Minister not agree that a suggestion has been made that the existing telephone facilities could be provided in a kiosk outside the existing post office? In view of the fact that the post office now closes at 5.30 p.m., and there is no other public phone within miles of the place, would he not reconsider the matter?

In view of the fact that an automatic exchange will be opened in the near future, it would be hardly correct to take a panic decision in this case.

What has an automatic exchange in a town 15 miles away to do with a telephone kiosk used by the local people?

It means they will get a 24-hour service.

Surely the Minister appreciates that there is a phone in the post office at present which is not available from 5.30 p.m. until the next morning and from 1.30 p.m. on Saturday until Monday morning? Since the local post office people say they are prepared to allow it, would the Minister not consider putting the telephone in a kiosk outside the premises, as has been done in other areas?

We might even do that later.