asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the estimated cost of meeting the installation charges for telephones applied for by old age pensioners living alone.

About £300,000 a year.

340.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, due to the extreme difficulties being experienced by a company (details supplied) in County Mayo in making telephone contact for business purposes, he will install an out of area dialling link to the factory immediately.

An out of area dialling link will be provided for the company when a new arterial trunk cable is brought into service in the second half of 1981. This facility could not be provided over the existing trunk circuits as they are not suitable for the purpose.

341.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.

Service has been restored.

342.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when an automatic dialling system will be introduced in the Gurteen area of County Sligo; and if he will have an all night service introduced for this area also, as there is a heavy demand for such a service.

It is planned to introduce an automatic dialling system at Gurteen in the first half of 1982.

All night service is available on a shared basis to about half of Gurteen subscribers at present. In view of the fact that conversion of the exchange to automatic working is expected in the first half of 1982 and as the introduction of continuous telephone service at Gurteen exchange for all subscribers there would involve staffing difficulties it is not proposed to provide such service in advance of automation.