asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will monitor the effectiveness of the telephone service on a continuing basis by regular repetition of the tests carried out in the external operational survey for the Posts and Telegraphs Review Body Report; and if he will publish or make available the results of such tests.

18.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he plans to increase the staff and telephone lines available in order to reduce the incidence of calls dialled to 10 that encounter an engaged tone, below the 19.2 per cent identified in the 1979 Posts and Telegraphs Review Body Report.

19.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether there has been any improvement in the situation identified in Table 2 (a), page 120, of the Posts and Telegraphs Review Body Report in relation to the 20 per cent of STD calls ex-Dublin which are unsuccessful for reasons unrelated to the number being engaged or not answered.

I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to take Questions Nos. 17, 18 and 19 together.

The quality of the service is monitored on an extensive and continuing basis by my Department. The methodology employed differs from that described in the review groups report, the Department's tests being much more extensive. I am satisfied that the Department's methods are adequate for present purposes and I do not propose, therefore, to have surveys of the kind carried out for the review body undertaken at present, at any rate.

Summary results of the Department's tests are made available regularly to the Post Office Users' Council. These show some improvement in the quality of the service generally since the survey was undertaken. Operator staff numbers have been increased over the last year or so, and additional ‘10' lines have been provided at a number of centres in both Dublin and the provinces.

I should point out, however, that until congestion in the trunk network is relieved according as the improvement schemes in progress and planned under the Government's accelerated telephone development programme are implemented significant improvements in the quality of the service cannot be expected in those aspects in which it is unsatisfactory at present.

Questions Nos. 20 to 25 inclusive are postponed. Question No. 26 is for written reply.

In relation to Questions Nos. 20 to 25, would the Minister tell the House if he has any reason why those questions were withdrawn particularly in view of the widespread——

I am sorry, Deputy, that is not in order.

27.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone applicants still awaiting service in (a) Clonlea, Ballinteer, (b) Hermitage, Rathfarnham, (c) Marley Court, Rathfarnham, (d) Broadford Hill and Walk, Ballinteer, (e) Knocklyon, Templeogue, (f) Firhouse, Tallaght and (g) Rathfarnham; and when it is likely that service will be available to these applicants.

(a) Clonlea, Ballinteer: Service was provide recently for some 60 applicants. There are about 10 applications which could not be attended to for various reasons, for example, faulty cables, inability to gain access and so forth. These applications will be dealt with progressively over the next few months.

(b) Hermitage, Rathfarnham: There are about 140 waiting applications. It is expected that service will be provided during the second half of this year.

(c) Marley Court, Rathfarnham: There are about 70 waiting applications. It is expected that service will be provided during the second half of this year.

(d) Broadford Hill and Walk, Ballinteer: There are about 50 waiting applications. It is expected that service will be provided during the second half of this year.

The information sought in regard to Knocklyon (e), Firhouse (f) and Rathfarnham (g) is not readily available as the records are not maintained in a form that would allow of this being done.

28.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will outline his programme to meet the applications for telephone service in the areas of (a) Sandyford, (b) Rathfarnham, (c) Ballinteer, (d) Knocklyon, (e) Firhouse and (f) Ballyboden, Dublin; and if he will indicate when the necessary exchanges and cabling will be completed for these areas.

New telephone exchanges are expected to be brought into service as follows: Ballyboden — mid 1981; Terenure — 1982; Sandyford — 1983.

Apart from Ballyboden, however, there is adequate provision at the existing exchanges to meet immediate requirements.

Necessary cabling work will be carried out and the waiting applications will be cleared progressively over the next two years or so. There will be several cabling schemes to serve each of the general areas mentioned and it would not be practicable at this stage to furnish firm forecasts for completion of all these schemes.

29.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate the basis on which the priority list for telephone applicants is drawn up.

The categories of applicants to whom priority is afforded are determined on the basis of their need for telephone service in relation to other applicants. Factors taken into account in considering whether priority should be accorded include:

The contribution the applicants make to the welfare of the community either by way of service such as members of the Oireachtas, hospitals, certain doctors and clergy, local authorities and national unions give or by the employment the applicants afford.

The need certain businesses and professions such as travel agencies, registered hotels, solicitors and journalists have for a telephone for the conduct of their business.

Exceptional health, distress or other humanitarian grounds.

The fact that applicants have already had service as in the case of existing subscribers moving to new premises.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Having regard to the fact that free rental is made available to elderly people would the Minister not think it would be reasonable to include elderly people on the priority list especially as time is more important to them than to younger people?

I agree with the Deputy. When old age pensioners live alone we give them a certain priority. Normally when telephone installations are going on in a district and if there are applicants in the old age pension group or the social welfare group in great need, as was shown in my original reply, consideration is given. It is not always easy to do what the Deputy asks.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I take it that the Minister agrees that people living alone and, very often, in fear, feel that a telephone is a social protection? Would he include them for special consideration where possible?

Old age pensioners living alone are included as a certain priority where possible.

(Cavan-Monaghan): If they are not old-age pensioners? If they are elderly people living alone?

An enormous number of people could make similar claims. Generally speaking, we have given a good allocation to the classes with priority. It is so broad now that there is a danger that the priority cases will not receive proper attention. The demands on priorities are extraordinary at times.

Question No. 30 is for written reply.

31.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone applications in Knockmore estate, Tallaght, County Dublin; and when the applicants will be connected.

There are about 24 waiting applicants in this estate. Service is dependent on the provision of cable which, because of the volume of engineering work requiring attention in the Dublin area, is unlikely to be carried out for at least another year.

32.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone applicants in Church Road, Rathcoole, County Dublin, will be connected.

It is expected that service will be provided by the end of this year.

33.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) the number of telephones installed in Rathcoole, County Dublin, in the past three years; (b) the number of outstanding applications for this area; and (c) the number of telephones to be installed in the coming 12 months.

(a) About 300, (b) about 100, (c) about 100.

34.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone applicants in the Bohernabreena area of County Dublin; the length of time each applicant has been waiting; and when these applicants will be connected.

There are 46 waiting applicants in the Bohernabreena, County Dublin, area; one application dates from 1974, there from 1975, four from 1976, seven from 1977, twelve from 1978, six from 1979, twelve from 1980 and one 1981.

It is expected that the 1974 application will be cleared shortly as part of a programme to meet long outstanding applications. The remaining applications will be cleared progressively over the next two years or so.