(Cavan-Monaghan): asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average waiting time for telephone installations (a) in Cavan town and (b) in the Cavan exchange area, and if he will state the cause of such delay and when he expects telephones may be installed with a normal waiting time from date of application.

(Dublin South-Central): I regret that the precise information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the average waiting times to date of outstanding applications are: (a) 12½ months; (b) 13½ months.

The main reason for the delay is a temporary shortage of equipment at Cavan exchange. It is expected that this will be remedied about the middle of next year.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Do the periods of 12½ months and 13½ months refer to the Cavan area?

(Dublin South-Central): Yes.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister tell me what is the longest waiting time in that area?

(Dublin South-Central): The number of applicants awaiting installations is 140.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is that in the town or in the area?

(Dublin South-Central): The number in Cavan town is 51 and in the outside area it is 89.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Minister tell me the longest waiting time in each area?

(Dublin South-Central): In the town of Cavan, 13 have been waiting since 1977 and 33 since 1978 and there have been five applications in 1979.

(Cavan-Monaghan): What is the longest period an applicant has been waiting?

(Dublin South-Central): Since mid-1977.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister hold out any hope of the position improving and, if so, when?

(Dublin South-Central): Of course I can. A 400-line extension in the Cavan exchange will be completed in the first quarter of 1980.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Will that improve matters?

(Dublin South-Central): It will be dependent on the Adelaide Road trunk exchange in Dublin which is expected to open at the same time.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister telling me that the backlog will be cleared up in 1980?

(Dublin South-Central): It is hoped that a considerable amount of it will be cleared. With an expanding economy, I have no doubt there will be more applicants.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Minister think that the present situation in the postal dispute will help the economy?

12.