(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will include town commissioners in the list of local authorities who may underwrite losses incurred by his Department in providing a public telephone kiosk.

Town commissioners are not a body recognised under existing legislation from whom a loss incurred by my Department in providing a telephone kiosk may be recovered. Indemnities against losses are, however, accepted by my Department from the county council or other appropriate local authority in respect of kiosks provided under the guarantee scheme in areas where town commissioners function.

Seeing that town commissioners are not recognised, would business people be accepted?

It is not a matter of not accepting the town commissioners. We accept indemnities through the county council.

Why not through the town commissioners?

When the county council are doing the job it would only be duplication to bring in the town commissioners. In any event the town commissioners rarely have a case to make inside their urban districts regarding telephones. It is a better system to leave it in the hands of the county council.

I take it that we are in favour of local autonomy?

Of course we are.

That is not it.

My question was will the Minister accept guarantees from a number of local business people?

No.