asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is intended to employ the proposed extra linesmen for whom interviews were held last year in the Clifden, Country Galway area.

(Dublin South-Central): The interviews in question were held to select men for employment, not as linesmen, but as temporary labourers. A date for the commencement of the employment has not yet been fixed. The men selected will be notified individually as soon as a date has been fixed.

On what date were these men interviewed?

(Dublin South-Central): They were interviewed on 9 and 10 August 1977.

It is about time they were employed.

(Dublin South-Central): The delay is due to the industrial dispute that has been with us for the last three or four months. No temporary labourers were recruited since the start of that dispute.

Why the gap in time?

Is the Minister checking on the members of the local cumann?

(Dublin South-Central): It takes some time to carry out certain investigations.

Will the Minister have these men employed by August next?

(Dublin South-Central): As soon as the industrial strike is over we will have the men working.

15.

(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will arrange to treat public representatives as priority applicants for telephone service.

(Dublin South-Central): Priority is accorded where practicable to applications for telephone service from public representatives.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister saying that public representatives are given priority treatment?

(Dublin South-Central): Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister be surprised to know that many public representatives have not been given priority treatment and that their applications are being attended to in the ordinary way, which means that they must wait up to two years? Would the Minister have regard to the fact that local public representatives are discharging a very important public function on a voluntary basis, that they are not paid travelling expenses unless they go to county council meetings, that they do not have free postage and that it is necessary for them to be in close touch with the county offices? Will the Minister ensure that they are given top priority, the same priority as Members of this House get?

(Dublin South-Central): Certain priorities exist before such public representatives. Top priority is given to Members of the Oireachtas and to diplomats, and county councillors do not rate in the same category.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister agree that such representatives seem to have to take their place in the queue and must wait for up to two years for the service?

(Dublin South-Central): Such representatives are not afforded the same priority as Oireachtas Members. They are given reasonable priority.

(Cavan-Monaghan): If they are given priority I take it that the Minister has a list of applications from such public representatives? Would he be prepared to tell us how many public representatives are on the waiting list?

(Dublin South-Central): I do not have that information here.

This question is being pursued unnecessarily. We must move on to the next question.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I hope that is not the attitude towards these unpaid public representatives, that any attention to them is unnecessary and should be brushed aside.

We do not have to have a debate at Question Time about the matter. I am not concerned about the individuals because it is not the Chair's responsibility.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I suggest that these representatives be given priority and provided with telephones as soon as possible.

(Dublin South-Central): They are given limited priority.

(Cavan-Monaghan): What does the Minister mean by “limited priority” and with what classes are such public representatives bracketed?

(Dublin South-Central): The top priority, naturally, goes to those involved in hospitals, doctors, fire brigades, members of the Government, Members of the Oireachtas and down along the line.

(Cavan-Monaghan): How far down the line are public representatives?

(Dublin South-Central): About fifth. After dealing with those in the top priority category we then deal with public representatives and the various business interests.

(Cavan-Monaghan): How long does it take to reach them in rural Ireland?

(Dublin South-Central): I do not have that information.

(Cavan-Monaghan) I will ask the Minister, in the course of another question, to tell the House the number of public representatives awaiting the service.

Are Members of the Oireachtas given priority for telephone repairs?

(Dublin South-Central): They are. Once they are on the priority list they automatically qualify.

I would ask the Minister to have this investigated. How does one get on the priority list?

(Dublin South-Central): If you are a Member of the Oireachtas—hopefully the Deputy is on it.

I am asking the Minister please to answer No. 16. Is there any sense in having nine supplementaries to one question?

(Cavan-Monaghan): The nine supplementaries are dealing with a group of 1,000 people who are not getting proper treatment.

Will the Minister answer Question No. 16?

How many Members of this House are still waiting for a telephone?

(Dublin South-Central): The only Deputy of this House to whom I very much regret I was unable to afford a telephone is Deputy Eileen Lemass and I have tried my best. She is the only Deputy without a telephone.

Will the Minister acknowledge that I made representations on her behalf?

Deputies should not make a laughing stock of the House. Will the Minister please answer the question I have asked him to answer?

How did Deputy Haughey get a telephone in the Blasket Islands? How is priority——

(Dublin South-Central): Because there were no cables involved.

Will the Minister please answer the question I have called?