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.