asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make a statement outlining details of the proposed new tele-communications centre at Midleton, County Cork, and the time table for completion involved.

At present telecommunications circuits carrying traffic between this country and distant countries are routed through the British Post Office system via the Goonhilly telecommunications earth station in Cornwall and/or submarine cable systems which terminate in Britain. My Department have investment shares in the Goonhilly station and in certain submarine cables. The position will be reached within the next few years that it will be more economic for the Department to have their own telecommunications earth station to meet the increasing need for satellite circuits to distant countries, particularly the United States, than to continue the present arrangements.

A site of about 60 acres has, therefore, been bought for a telecommunications satellite earth station complex at Midleton, County Cork. Planning of the station to provide the necessary satellite circuits to meet telecommunications traffic needs is in hand. It is expected that the station will be in service within five years. It will enable direct communication to be established between this country and many others without relying on transit facilities provided by intermediate countries.

The site acquired will also be adequate to enable additional earth station facilities to be provided later to meet expected international satellite requirements to Europe and elsewhere.

How does the Minister define the word "few" as given in his answer? I think he mentioned a few years time.

Within five years.

What is the estimated cost of the centre which is envisaged at Midleton?

Approximately £5 million.

What does the Department envisage for the Goonhilly telecommunications earth station?

I have not got with me the specific investment in it, but the break-even point of our financial involvement in Goonhilly will be reached in the mid-eighties. For this reason it is more economic for the Department, on a recent analysis, to think in terms of an earth satellite station.

What improvements will this bring about?

It will mean that we will no longer be depending on the British Post Office and other areas for direct communications to the United States and South America. After that we will be able to develop our own independent communications through the use of the earth station at Midleton in County Cork.

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