The Minister stated that out of 47 centres only nine have direct telephone facilities. I accept that appointments are made through the central office but the reality is that people try to contact their local centres. My information is that all sorts of Micky-Mouse arrangements exist whereby people are ringing the office next door or the office upstairs to try and contact the driving centre. Would the Minister not agree that, if we are to avoid a repetition of the unfortunate backlog that occurred in the past, the provision of the balance of 30 telephones is necessary?

Telephones have been provided in nine centres. As the Deputy probably knows, most test centres are manned only during the period of testing, which may be once a week or once in two weeks. The nine regional centres have telephones and there are extensions from Council switchboards in a few others like Letterkenny. That is the position at the moment. If all the centres had telephones it would be on a temporary basis because they are manned only for a short time.

Does the Minister regard the present situation as satisfactory?

I suppose it is not satisfactory but it is an improvement to have them at regional level.

Will the Minister continue the improvement?

Yes.