asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) how many public coinboxes there are in Dublin city, (b) how many of these on average have been out of order during the last six months and (c) what steps are taken to check up on their condition to make sure they are in working order.

(a) There are approximately 500 public kiosks in the Dublin city area. (b) On average about 90 kiosk telephones in the Dublin area are found to be out of order each day. (c) Kiosks in the city area are checked daily on weekdays and those in suburban areas are checked every second day on week days.

Could the Minister say why, since they are checked every day in the city, the same boxes are out of order whenever one goes to them and how it is that in certain areas all the boxes are out of order?

I can assure the Deputy that the boxes are checked daily in the Dublin area.

When the Minister says checked, does he mean that, if they are found to be out of order, they are put in order immediately?

Yes.

Is the Minister aware that in parts of Dublin no boxes are in order for long periods?

If the Deputy would let me have details of any such cases, I shall have them examined.

Certainly. One case that comes to mind is that on the morning of the day on which the attack was made on Hume Street I endeavoured to telephone the dangerous buildings section of Dublin Corporation between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. but there was no public telephone within a quarter-mile area.

May I ask the Minister if he is satisfied that the design and the operation of public telephone kiosks in Dublin city— a major capital city of Europe—are now regarded as being obsolete?

That is a separate question.

I do not wish to impose unduly on the Minister by having to put down a question next week, so perhaps I could have his observations very briefly. Will the Minister not agree that the design of the kiosks invites vandalism to some extent?

I shall examine what the Deputy has said.

Could the Minister indicate what proportion of the kiosks are out of order because of vandalism and what proportion are out of order because of defects in the telephones?

I am told——

It is a separate question.

The Minister has been told something, Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and he is willing to pass it on to the House.

Not if I am out of order.

Do not be so meticulous.

Is the Minister aware that one out of every five telephones is out of order in Dublin city? How does that figure compare with those of other capitals?

77.

andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a telephone kiosk will be provided at Streete, County Westmeath.

Provision of kiosks in areas such as Streete, where there is no post office, is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.

78.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, if, in view of the large number of residents in the Carrigmahon area, Monkstown, County Cork, he will arrange for the provision of a public telephone there.

Provision of kiosks in areas such as Carrigmahon, where there is no post office, is not envisaged under the extended kiosk programme for rural areas.

79.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has any proposals for the provision of a public telephone kiosk at Kiltealy, County Wexford.

Provision of a kiosk at Kiltealy would not be warranted at present but one will be provided under the current five year programme for extension of kiosk facilities in rural areas.