asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the details of the contracts recently entered into by his Department with two companies (details supplied) for the provision of new telephone equipment.

Commitments have been entered into with the two companies in question for the supply and installation of digital equipment to provide; new trunk exchanges at Dublin and Limerick; new trunk and local subscriber exchanges at Athlone, Drogheda, Ennis, Galway, Naas and Sligo; a new local subscriber exchange at Palmerstown in the Dublin area and for the conversion to automatic working of 41 exchanges in the Bantry, Ballymote, Ceanannus Mór, Donegal, Kanturk and Manorhamilton Charge Groups.

The value of the initial commitment to each company is of the order of £10 million and the intention is that further substantial orders will be placed this year and in succeeding years to meet requirements for a number of years ahead. The arrangements under which the two companies will supply and instal digital exchange equipment are intended to secure speedy implementation of the £650 million Accelerated Development Programme launched late last year. It is expected that a number of the new digital exchanges will be in service next year.

What is the estimated expenditure in the current year on the provision of this equipment?

This current year?

Yes.

Expenditure, or value of orders placed?

Expenditure.

I do not have the actual expenditure but the value of orders placed at present exceeds £20 million and they will be on a continuing basis between now and the end of the year.