Telephone Density
Ireland had approximately 14 telephones per 100 people in 1975, up from 10.4 in 1970, but remained well behind other EEC countries. The Minister acknowledged that progress was slower than desired and could not say how future answers would be affected by the absence of a recent census.
(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephones per 100 of the population at the end of 1975.
Comment on this
We are well down the league but I can report that the number per 100 has been increasing: 10.4 in 1970; 10.9 in 1971; 11.3 in 1972; 12.0 in 1973; 13.0 in 1974; and 14.0 in 1975. It is going up. Some progress has been made but not nearly as rapidly as we would wish.
Comment on this
Those figures seem to indicate that the rate of progress for 1973, 1974, and 1975 had been slower than the rate of progress in the years immediately preceding.
Comment on this
In 1970 it was 10.4 compared with 10.9 in 1971 and that is not sensational. We will all make our own anthology.
Comment on this
(Dublin Central): Can the Minister give any indication as to how he will answer questions like this in a few years time due to the fact that the census was not taken recently?