asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the bad telephone service in the following areas over the past month, where major breakdowns have occurred: Portlaoise, Portarlington, Bracknagh, Walsh Island.

During the past month telephone service at Portarlington, Bracknagh and Walsh Island was seriously affected on three occasions by cable faults caused by heavy rain penetrating the sheath of a main cable. Repairs were affected as quickly as possible on each occasion. Arrangements have been in train to have the cable in question replaced as soon as practicable in 1977. I am not aware of any breakdown at Portlaoise during the period in question.