asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that on the night of Sunday, 13th June 1976 all six coin boxes in Tullamore, County Offaly were out of order and that this is becoming a regular feature in the town; and if he will state the steps he is taking to avoid this inconvenience.

The answer to the first part of the question is No. A fault report was received in respect of one kiosk only but three of the six were found to be out of order on the morning of 14th June owing to the coin slots being jammed. Most of the service difficulties with these kiosks are caused by the jamming of coin slots by bent coins or by being stuffed with paper or other material. All fault reports are dealt with on a priority basis. Special additional steps are difficult to envisage in the circumstances.

Is it not a fact that the twopenny slot in these machines is in some way defective; that it is not merely confined to this instance but is a general problem all over the country?

I am afraid I cannot accept an extension of this question which deals with the coin boxes in Tullamore.

I am asking whether or not, in this particular instance, where all the coin slots were jammed, the defect is inherent in the mechanism.

I am not allowing a widening of the question.

I am not so informed.