asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make arrangements to retain the auto-manual exchange in Cahirciveen post office and to provide operator services for subscribers in south Kerry.

The intention is that when Cahirciveen exchange is converted to automatic working all operator services for the area will be provided from Tralee exchange. The volume of manual traffic to be handled at Cahirciveen following the conversion of the exchange to automatic working would not warrant retention of operators there. Moreover, the new automatic exchange for Cahirciveen has been designed on the basis that operator services would be provided from Tralee and provision of operator services at Cahirciveen would involve additional expense and delay in bringing the automatic exchange into use.

I should add that the arrangements for dealing with staff displaced as a result of extension of the automatic service generally are the subject of discussion with the staff organisations representing the staffs involved.

Is the Minister aware of the very grave unemployment situation which exists in Cahericiveen at the moment. Three factories are closed and now the telephone exchange is closing down. Surely the Minister could see his way to diverting some extra work into the exchange to keep some of the people employed there?

I do not have the figures on this but, as far as my Department are concerned, as far as employment in the Caherciveen area, and particularly in south Kerry last year is concerned, we have given more employment there than any private industrial employer. Secondly, in answer to the Deputy's question concerning automation, do they want an automatic service in Caherciveen or do they not? If they do not want the automatic service now, would the Deputy say so, because there are a thousand different places around the country where we could place this exchange. If you are going to get an automatic exchange, how can you have an operator-assisted exchange? It is a simple question and has a simple answer.

One can only expect a bark from a dog. The Minister is not interested.

The Minister is very interested.

Obviously, the Minister is not interested in keeping extra people working in Caherciveen. That is what the question asked for and there is no other interpretation that can be put on it.

I have answered the question but the Deputy may not interpret it in such a way as to put on it whatever type of twist he wishes for The Kerryman. I am now asking the Deputy and the people of Cahirciveen publicly whether they want an automatic service.

One can only expect from a pig a grunt.