asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of applications for telephone service in the Dublin area outstanding at the end of 1980.

About 40,000.

Would the Minister give us the comparable figures for 1978 and 1979?

I will do so if the Deputy puts down a question.

21.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the total number of new telephones installed in the Dublin area in 1980; and the number of new installations planned for 1981.

About 24,500 and 35,000 respectively.

The Minister mistook what I asked. I wish to know the number of applications for telephone service outstanding in the Dublin area, apart from 1980 which is given as 40,000. I would like the figures for 1979 and 1978.

It was around 15,500 at that time. Of course there is a continuing demand.

It is getting worse.

It is not. Applications are rising daily.

Deputy Brady, please.

It is all because of the fact that we put our money where our mouth was.

A hell of a big mouth.

It was borrowed money.

Will Deputy White allow Deputy Brady to ask a supplementary question.

The Department should be congratulated on reaching the Minister's targets but when does the Minister anticipate that the people on the present waiting list will receive service?

At the pace we are moving in Dublin we hope that by 1984 we will be able to offer telephone service on demand.

I wish to clarify the Minister's previous reply. The Minister mentioned a figure of 15,500. Is that the number of applications outstanding at the end of 1979?

Yes.

Therefore, during 1980 the number outstanding increased by 24,500 or by 150 per cent.

No, the applications are continuously coming in.

The backlog increased by well over 150 per cent.

No, the Deputy has got it wrong.

Could the Minister perhaps explain the position because he just told me that the figure was 15,500 at the end of 1979. In view of the fact that there were 40,000 at the end of 1980 that is an increase——

At the beginning of 1980 there were 44,631 people on the waiting list for telephones. We installed 24,500. In the normal course of events about 5 to 10 per cent of the people who originally made application do not take the service when offered. Taking that into account plus the fact that through 1980 other people made applications for telephone service and they are getting it too, the increase in Dublin is tremendous.

Is it quite clear that the Minister has said that at the end of 1979 15,500 applications were outstanding——

No.

The Minister repeated that twice.

I did not say that.

The Minister said it twice.

I think the Deputy is a bit confused.

The Minister is confusing me.

I heard also that the Deputy was confused in west Cork during the weekend where he was holding the same deputation twice.

I asked a Question to clarify the Minister's original reply and the Minister confirmed specifically that the backlog for 1979 was 15,500. If that is not so, what does the figure 15,500 relate to?

That relates to 1980, not 1979. In 1980 the figure on the waiting list was 44,631. I then proceeded to tell the Deputy that when people are offered a telephone service, about 5 per cent of them refuse it.

What is the comparable figure in 1979?

What is the figure of 15,500?

In 1979 there were 35,366.

What?

Waiting applicants. Is that what the Deputy is asking about?

I see, so there is an increase of 11,000 in the waiting list but what does the figure of 15,500 relate to?

And there may be an increase in the waiting list at the end of this year as well, despite the fact that we put in 25,000 telephones last year.

We cannot have a debate on this.

The Minister used the figure of 15,500. What does that figure relate to?

I know what is wrong with Deputy FitzGerald—he is amazed at the fact that we are capable of giving the service that we said we would give——

Question No. 22.

——and he cannot digest it.

What does the figure of 15,500 relate to? Is the Minister afraid to answer.

The Minister is not afraid to answer any questions concerning the Department of Posts and Telegraphs if the Deputy could clarify his mind as to what he wishes to ask.

Question No. 22.

I seek the protection of the Chair. The Minister mentioned 15,500 and he has repeatedly refused to say what that figure relates to or to clarify his reply.

It relates to the waiting list.

When?

At the end of 1980.

The Minister told us that it was 44,500 at the end of 1980.

Of which I said 24,500 were taken away from it because we installed 24,500 telephones in Dublin city last year. Does the Deputy understand it now?

No.

Well, I am sorry for the Deputy.

All I understand is that there was an increase of 11,000 in 1980 and that there is a figure of 15,500 somewhere and the Minister is not prepared——

I cannot allow a debate to continue.

By 1984 we will be able to offer telephone service to the people in Dublin on demand.

Think of a number and subtract your first thoughts away from it.

The Minister is like a walking fog.

22.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide public telephone kiosks in the Markievicz House complex of flats and the new City Quay complex, off Peterson's Lane, Dublin.

There are four telephone kiosks within about 250 yards of Markievicz House complex and there is a kiosk within about 80 yards of the City Quay complex. These are regarded as adequate to meet the needs of the district. In the circumstances provision of further kiosks to serve these areas is not warranted at present.

Will the Minister not agree on the desirability of providing such telephone kiosks within complexes of flats where they are less likely to be vandalised than on the streets outside?

Vandalism is a major problem. In fact one of our new pay phones was wrecked this weekend. It is a tragedy.

Where there are complexes of flats of the kind that there are in Markievicz House, would the Minister not agree that it would be better to install the pay phones in the complex as they would be more likely to be free from vandalism?

It is something we have tried before and sometimes it works. The sad part is that the pay phone service is now going to start on a vandalism trip.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will provide a telephone kiosk at the new housing scheme in Pigeon House Road, Ringsend, Dublin.

It is not proposed to provide an additional telephone kiosk in this area at present. However, in view of the many representations which I have received about this matter I am arranging for my Department to re-examine the situation and I will communicate with the Deputy shortly.

I am grateful to the Minister as it is a very isolated place.

I will take Deputy FitzGerald's representations into account as well but the question was put down to Deputy Quinn.

24.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the average delay in repairing telephones; and whether any improvement is expected in this regard.

The time taken to repair telephone faults is measured in terms of the percentage of faults cleared within a specific number of days. The average figures for the country in respect of the quarter ended 31 December 1980 were as follows:

Number of measures are being taken to improve the standard of the repair service, particularly in the Dublin area, and I would expect improvements to begin to become evident from these quickly.

Has the Minister on his file the information as to the longest delay?

No.

I am not surprised.

On the northside of Dublin city practically 90 per cent of the faults are cleared in one week. On the south side we are trying to bring it to that level.

Is the Minister aware of the serious delays in mending faults in the 28 area and would he direct the attention of his Department to some of the delays?

That has been brought to my notice already and it has now improved.

The Minister indicated, obviously because this was a reply to Deputy Michael O'Leary, the effectiveness of clearing faults on the north side of the city and also indicated that the situation on the south side was worse. Will the Minister say how much worse is the situation on the south side than on the north side?

It is hard to put a figure on it. We put in a task force on the north side and they had tremendous success. We are now transferring that force to the south side.

Why did they do the north side first?

Because it seemed to be the worst.

The Taoiseach lives there.

That is not necessarily why.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether the protracted industrial dispute at a firm (details supplied) is having an adverse effect on his programme for the supply of telephones; and the measures he is taking to resolve this dispute.

The industrial dispute in question has been resolved. It did not affect the installation of telephones but delayed the installation and commissioning of a number of telephone exchanges, Discussions are taking place with the contractor on how the time lost can be recovered.

26.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is expected to have an automatic telephone exchange installed in Swinford, County Mayo.

In the second half of 1982.

Thank you very much.

27.

(Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when an automatic telephone service will be provided for Clontibret, County Monaghan, as this service was promised for 1981.

In the second half of 1982.

28.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when the new telephone exchange in Dunboyne, County Meath was completed; when the equipment was installed; if the exchange is yet in operation; if not, why; and the number of additional telephone lines that can be provided in Dunboyne when the exchange comes into full operation.

The new exchange building was finished in July 1976. Installation and testing of equipment was completed in October 1977. Extensive cableworks were necessary to bring the exchange into service and these were completed in October 1980. The bringing of the exchange into service has been further delayed pending the completion of certain building adaption works requested by the staff. The new exchange will increase the existing exchange capacity from 600 subscribers lines to 2,000.

Would the Minister not agree that it is an absolute disgrace that an exchange completed in July 1976 is not yet in operation?

No. We had to take into account facilities for staff working in this district. We have completed negotiations with the IPOEU. It is only right to have proper facilities for the staff.

I agree with that, but why are adaptation works now being requested by the staff? Why were they not incorporated in the original design of the exchange and implemented in October 1977? The exchange was completed in 1976.

It was not completed in 1976.

In July 1976.

No. In October 1977.

That is when the equipment was put in.

There was a problem regarding visibility from the equipment room.

Why was that not foreseen by the well-paid architects employed by the Department to do this kind of work? Is the Minister aware that there is a backlog of people waiting for telephones in Dunboyne? There is a bad service there because the exchange has not been brought into operation although it was completed in 1976.

There are 137 applicants waiting at present, 17 were offered service in 1980 and as soon as possible service will be offered to the others.

Why were these problems not foreseen?

They were not foreseen.

Why?

It was members of the IPOEU who brought up the matter.

Why?

The Deputy had better ask them.

These are employees of the Minister's Department. It is money spent by his Department. If an exchange on which his Department spent money in 1976 is not in operation in 1981 the Minister should be asking questions and should have a more serious attitude towards the matter.

I respect the employees and their opinions and it is high time Fine Gael respected them too.

Waffle. Keep to the point of the question.

In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I wish to raise this matter on the adjournment.

I will communicate with the Deputy.

29.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a person (details supplied) in South County Dublin may expect the restoration of telephone service; and if she will receive credit for the period in which the telephone did not operate.

Service has been restored. A rental rebate is being allowed in respect of the period without service.