asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the continued deterioration in the telephone service in County Galway and that businesses are finding it impossible to operate due to the lack of a proper communications system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not so aware. On the contrary, the quality of the service is improving. However, as I indicated in reply to a question by the Deputy on 20 November 1980, there is still substantial room for improvement in the standard of service in the county and I would refer the Deputy to the improvement measures planned to improve the service in Galway as part of the Government's five-year telecommunications development programme that I set out in that reply.

I expect there will be a significant improvement in the quality of service during 1981 according as improvement schemes in the pipeline are completed and there will be further improvements in subsequent years according as the development programme is implemented.

37.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in providing a telephone service for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when service will be supplied.

It has not been possible to provide service for this applicant because of the volume of work to be done in the area generally and, more recently, because of congestion at the main exchange. It is expected that a new exchange will be installed in the first half of 1982 and service will be provided quickly after that.

41.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when his Department intend to erect a public telephone kiosk at Cregcarragh, Claregalway, County Galway.

About the end of this year.

42.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone kiosk will be provided at Inchaboy South, Gort, County Galway.

The use likely to be made of a telephone kiosk at that location would not be sufficient to warrant its provision and it is not proposed therefore to provide one there.