asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone applications awaiting connection in the town of Kells, County Meath; the engineering work required to meet these applications; and when he expects to meet them.

There are about 130 waiting applicants in the Kells area. Service is dependent on the conversion of the local exchange to automatic working before the end of the year and the provision of additional cabling. About 40 of the earliest applicants and some 20 or so later applications where there is little linework will be offered service after the opening of the automatic exchange. The remainder will be given service progressively over the following year as cable is provided.

189.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when telephone service will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and whether she will be given credit for the period between December last and the day on which telephone service is restored.

Service will be restored within a few days. A rebate of rental will be allowed for periods without service.

190.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is expected that the application for the transfer of telephone service which was made in July 1977 will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin in view of the fact that neighbours who applied in the autumn of 1980 had service before Christmas.

Within the next month or so.

191.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a company (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive two telephone lines, in view of the fact that they provide employment.

Additional cabling must be carried out before the two additional lines requested by the company can be provided. Because of the volume of engineering work on hands it is unlikely that this work will be undertaken for at least a year. The possibility of providing the additional lines requested by other means will, however, be explored.

192.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the action being taken to settle the alleged overcharging on the telephone account of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There have been continuing correspondence and discussion over a period of years with this subscriber regarding his telephone accounts but it has not been possible to resolve the position. The matter will be further discussed with the subscriber within the next week or so with a view to an early settlement.

193.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in reconnecting the telephone of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.

Service was provided recently. It was not possible to provide service earlier because of a fault in the cabling serving the applicant's premises.