asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why it is considered necessary to require Meath County Council to guarantee any loss in telephone kiosks at Dunderry, Kilcarne, Kentstown, Rathcairn, Ballinlough and Killallan before their erection; and whether his Department considers that they are required at those locations.

8.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide telephone kiosks at Dunderry, Kilcarne, Kentstown, Rathcairn, Ballinlough and Killallan, County Meath.

(Dublin South-Central): With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.

Under existing policy which has been in operation for many years kiosks are not provided at places such as Dunderry, Kilcarne, Kentstown, Rathcairn or Killallan where there are no post offices or at places such as Ballinlough where the call office telephone in the post office is little used. Meath County Council requested provision of kiosks in these areas. They were informed that, if the council were prepared to guarantee the kiosks against any loss involved in their provision and maintenance, the Department would provide them.

With regard to Ballinlough, which is eligible under the existing scheme, when is it likely a kiosk will be provided there at the present rate of progress?

(Dublin South-Central): The business transacted in Ballinlough post office at the moment is very small and would not warrant a public kiosk on the standards which obtain at present in the Department. Very little business is transacted in that sub-post office.

(Cavan-Monaghan): In view of the fact that the Minister requires guarantees from the local authorities in respect of these kiosks, will the Parliamentary Secretary persuade the Minister for the Environment to ensure sufficient grants are given to enable local authorities to give these guarantees?

That is a separate question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): It is not. It is very relevant.

The two questions here are purely local and the Deputy is now extending the ambit of the questions. If I were to permit this we could be here on these two questions until the end of Question Time. Question No. 9.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Local authorities will not be able to give these guarantees unless the Minister for the Environment gives them sufficient grants to enable them to do so, so the buck is back with the Minister for the Environment.

I have called the next question, Question No. 9.

9.