asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has received a complaint from a weaving company (details supplied) in County Donegal regarding the future employment of 80 workers which is threatened due to the unsatisfactory telex and telephone service in County Donegal and the steps he proposes to take to remedy the situation.

28.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his attention has been drawn to the unsatisfactory telex and telephone service to a company (details supplied) in County Donegal and the steps he intends to take to improve this situation.

I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.

A complaint was received from the firm concerned recently relating to the service in the period late March/early April. Telex service to the company was interrupted on a number of occasions during that period when the insulation of the cable was damaged while underground cable between Letterkenny and Milford was being laid. Every effort was made to restore service as quickly as possible for the subscriber when these breakdowns occurred. Telephone service was also affected to some extent on these occasions. Both services have been satisfactory since.

Is the Minister satisfied that this was an isolated case?

Yes, this particular one certainly was because in the laying of the cable in the duct a certain amount of damage was caused

Is that the truth or is that what the Minister wants to believe to be the truth?

I am telling the Deputy the truth and if he does not want to believe it, that is not my fault.

That there are no telex difficulties in Donegal except the one to which Deputy White and I referred?

Not that I am aware of, but as regards the specific question the Deputy asked specifically, the reply is the absolute truth. That is commonly known.

I understand that on some days the telex was half operating; on other days it was not operating at all. If the line was cut surely it would not operate at all?

It was damaged. The technicians are trying to remedy this situation to the best of their ability. That has now been completed.

And it is definitely working 100 per cent now?

It is, yes, subject to nothing else happening.

It should be recorded that there is no reflection on the technicians concerned. I do not know how they are working. The system is about to collapse as the Minister well knows. This is not an isolated case. It did not happen on the one occasion but is occurring every other week.

That is the contention.

There are 80 families involved.

I had a very able reply to question No. 25 which was withdrawn——

It was not withdrawn; it is for written reply. That is my privilege.

I know it is.

29.