asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will ensure that the telephone service in the Trim area of County Meath is improved as a matter of priority as it is hindering the work of industrial companies and of business people in the town.

Extra call handling equipment was brought into service on the 14th of last month in Navan exchange—which is the trunk switching centre for calls to and from Trim—to relieve overloading in the area. I understand that the installation of this equipment has improved the service at Trim. Further improvement may be expected later this year when some 40 extra trunk circuits are due to be provided between Navan and Dublin.