asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a public telephone kiosk erected at Coolroe Crossroads, Crossboyne, Claremorris, County Mayo, in view of the long distance to post offices in that area.

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

105.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will have a telephone kiosk erected at Cullnacleha, Tulrahan, Claremorris, County Mayo, in view of a large number of farmers in the area who have requested it.

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

106.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if a telephone kiosk will be erected at Johnstown Bridge, County Kildare.

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

107.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the urgent need for the provision of a public telephone kiosk at Knockmore, Ballina, County Mayo.

The call office telephone at Knockmore post office is little used and the provision of a street kiosk there is not contemplated at present.

108.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will reconsider the decision regarding the provision of a telephone kiosk at Laragh, Ballyglunin, County Galway.

I regret that it is not possible to accede to the Deputy's request. The extended rural kiosk programme is being implemented on the basis of replacing by kiosks call office telephones in sub-post offices which are used to a fair extent and the programme does not envisage the provision of kiosks at places such as Laragh, Ballyglunin, where there is no post office.

109.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the inadequate telephone service in Waterford city; and if he will take steps to rectify the situation.

I am advised that the local automatic and trunk switching equipment at Waterford is adequate and is working satisfactorily. The installation of additional exchange equipment at Waterford costing over £120,000 has recently been completed. There have, however, been difficulties affecting some trunk calls from Waterford to other parts of the system—notably calls to certain Dublin exchanges which are awaiting completion of orders for extension or replacement and calls to the Clonmel area. The latter calls are subject to delays pending relief by coaxial cable which is on order. Difficulties of this kind are, I am afraid, unavoidable until the exchanges or routes concerned have been relieved.

110.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider the erection of a telephone kiosk at Greenanstown, Stamullen, County Meath, where there is no telephone service since the post office closed.

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

111.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange for the provision of a telephone kiosk in the village of Renanirree, Macroom, County Cork.

112.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide a telephone kiosk at Renanirree, Macroom, County Cork.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

The provision of a telephone kiosk at Renanirree, Macroom, County Cork, in replacement of the call office telephone in the local sub-post office is already planned under the extended rural kiosk programme for the current financial year. It is expected that the kiosk will be erected and brought into service by 31st March next.

113.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a second telephone kiosk will be erected in Ballincollig, County Cork.

A site has been selected for the second kiosk at Ballincollig, County Cork, and local authority consent for it has been sought. Provided this consent is forthcoming quickly, it is expected that the kiosk will be erected and brought into service by the end of March next.

114.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if it is his intention to erect a public telephone kiosk at the Metal Bridge, Ballyboy Cross, Upperchurch. Thurles, County Tipperary.

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

115.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone service will be provided for a person (name supplied) in County Galway.

It is expected that terms will be quoted to the applicant in the second quarter of 1973.

116.

andMr. Meaney asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate his Department's plans for dealing with the long delay and waiting list for telephones in the fast developing areas of Blarney, Ballincollig, Douglas, Carrigaline, Passage West and surrounding districts in County Cork.

Arrangements have already been made to provide service for 85 of the applicants in the areas mentioned and terms will be quoted to a further 70 during the next three to four months. Most of the remainder will be attended to later in 1973.

117.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to a statement by the chairman of a British based company recently set up in this country that he was appalled by the delay in having telephones connected and the poor service provided; and if he will make a statement in relation to the unsatisfactory telephone service in this country.

The answer to the first part of the question is "yes". The firm concerned took over an existing telephone line and applied at the end of August for the urgent installation of a switchboard, an extra line and four extensions. Three weeks later they increased their order to four exchange lines and six extensions. These requirements were sought in an area where provision of exchange lines is restricted pending completion of a new exchange at present in course of installation. All of their first order and portion of their second were met within about two months of their first inquiry. I do not consider that their comments call for any general statement.

118.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the delay experienced by applicants in rural areas for a telephone service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In general the interval between application date and installation is not longer in rural areas than in urban areas. It depends in each case on the plant and staff position in the district concerned, the nature of the application and the construction work involved in providing service.

119.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when an applicant (name supplied) for a telephone in County Galway can expect to have it installed.

It is expected that terms will be quoted to the applicant in the second quarter of 1973.

120.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (name supplied) in Dunmore, County Galway, will be supplied with a telephone.

Terms have been quoted to the applicant. The telephone will be installed as soon as possible after the usual formalities, including the agreement, have been completed.

121.

(Cavan): asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date on which a person (name supplied) in County Cavan applied for a telephone; the reason for the delay in installing it; and when it will be provided.

The person in question applied on 10th August, 1971. Service was not provided before now because of pressure of other urgent engineering work in the area. Clearances of outstanding applications are arranged periodically and terms were quoted to the applicant, as well as to four others in the exchange area, in September, 1972. He accepted and service was provided in November.

122.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when two persons in County Galway (details supplied) can expect to be provided with a telephone service.

It is expected that terms will be quoted to the applicants in question in March or April next provided a wayleave consent for erection of a section of new pole route is received from the local authority.

123.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone service will be provided for a person (name supplied) in County Roscommon; and the reason for the delay in facilitating him.

It is expected that service will be provided in about two months. The delay arose owing to pressure of work in the district concerned.

124.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange for the provision of a telephone service at Tullamore swimming pool, County Offaly, in view of the urgent request of Tullamore Urban District Council.

My Department have no current request from Tullamore Urban District Council for telephone facilities at Tullamore swimming pool. Terms for a coin box telephone at the pool were quoted to the council at their request in July, 1971, but there was no response and the application was regarded as withdrawn.

125.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the position regarding the provision of a telephone kiosk at Rahan, Tullamore, County Offaly; if he is satisfied that a special case can be made for the provision of this kiosk apart from his Department's five year programme; and if he will treat the case as one of urgency.

It is expected that a telephone kiosk will be provided at Rahan, Tullamore, in the financial year 1973-74 under the extended rural kiosk programme.

In rural areas telephone kiosks are provided only in replacement of those call office telephones in sub-post offices which are used to a fair extent, those which are most used coming first. It is on this basis that the extended rural kiosk programme is being implemented. I am not satisfied that the circumstances at Rahan would warrant exceptional treatment outside of the extended rural kiosk programme.

126.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will reconsider his previous refusals to erect a telephone kiosk in Moyglass, Fethard, County Tipperary, in view of the fact that there is no doctor or garda within five miles.

I regret that it is not possible to accede to the Deputy's request. The extended rural kiosk programme is being implemented on the basis of replacing by kiosks call office telephones in sub-post offices which are used to a fair extent and the programme does not envisage the provision of kiosks at places such as Moyglass, Fethard, where there is no post office.

127.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the need to have a public telephone erected at Corrandulla, County Galway.

Provision of a kiosk at Corrandulla in replacement of the call office telephone in the sub-post office has already been authorised. It is likely to be in service within the next week or so.

128.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if arrangements are being made to have a public telephone kiosk provided in Ballintogher, County Sligo.

The provision of a telephone kiosk at Ballintogher, County Sligo, in replacement of the call office telephone in the local post office is already planned under the extended rural kiosk programme for the current financial year. It is expected that it will be erected and brought into service within the next month or two.

129.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person in County Galway (name supplied) can expect to have a telephone installed in his business premises.

It is expected that the application in question will be attended to in about five to six months. The erection of about a mile of new pole route is necessary and a public wayleave will be required.