asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications which have been received in his Department for a refund of telephone rental by people whose phones have been malfunctioning or completely out of order over the past few months; if it is intended to give a full rebate of rental to such people; the number of rebates which have already been granted; and the reasons for the delay in granting such rebates.

(Dublin South-Central): Some 3,800 written complaints were received in the four months ended 31 March from subscribers whose telephones were out of service. Information is not readily available as to the number of these who specially requested rebates of rental, but it is standard practice in every such case to consider the granting of a rebate when the complaint is being examined. A full rebate of rental will be allowed in all cases where there has been delay in restoring service. Some 1,700 rebates have been allowed so far. Rebates will be allowed in the remaining cases when postal services are resumed.

The Minister referred to the standard practice of allowing rebates where service is interrupted. Am I to understand that no particular cognizance is being taken of the massive disruption and inconvenience caused specifically by the dispute? Is the Minister willing to consider the situation where a service was limited, though perhaps not totally interrupted, owing to the dispute?

The question does not permit examining every possibility under which rebates might be obtained. The Chair would not risk allowing that. There are many facets of the question which could be dealt with if that were permitted.

Is the Minister saying there will be no difference in the practice of the Department with regard to the possibility of rebates in the context of the dispute than has been normal in the past?

(Dublin South-Central): Many of the requests for rebates were due to damage caused by flooding in January and February and it took some time to restore services. Where services have been reconnected we will ensure that a certain amount of rebate is conceded for the period when the service was not available, irrespective of whether we receive requests for such rebates.

Would the Minister accept that in the same category would fall those telephones which are on manual exchange and through which it is not possible to make or receive calls owing to the Post Office strike which affects telephones connected to a manual exchange? Would that be considered a malfunction?

(Dublin South-Central): Certainly we will look at that situation.

Would the Minister accept that people in those areas should get a full rebate for the disruption caused by the postal strike?

(Dublin South-Central): Some local connections are working within particular districts.

11.