asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will indicate, area by area in Dublin city and county, the proposed dates of commencement and completion of major telephone cabling installation works in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

One of the objectives of the current five-year accelerated telephone development programme is to get into a position by the end of 1984 where all applications for telephone service can be met promptly. Meeting this target, as is planned, will involve extensive cabling works in almost all areas in Dublin city and county over the programme period.

Because of the number of different types of work involved, such as trenching, laying ducts, pulling in cables, jointing and distribution, work is not programmed in a way that would enable the information required to be given on an area by area basis.

Is the Minister using the new electronic subscriber carrying system which can replace a lot of the cabling work he mentioned in his answer?

Which number did the Chair call?

I called the next question.

Is the Minister not prepared to reply to my supplementary?

I have read the reply to Question No. 16.

At what level has the Minister started to introduce the subscriber carrier system which can replace a lot of the cabling work in the Department? Has he introduced a single or multi-carrier subscriber system in Dublin? If so, what progress is he making to replace cabling?

This matter is being considered by engineers at very senior level and there are ongoing talks almost weekly. I can assure the Deputy that the part he played in getting this programme off the ground will be accelerated in 1982 and 1983 and hopefully will be completed by 1984.

Is the subscriber carrier system in use in Dublin and around the country?

No.

That is absolute nonsense. When we put down questions we expect truthful answers.

Would the Deputy ask a question, please.

The Deputy did not put down the question.

Stop rushing to the Minister's defence. Will the Minister admit that subscriber carrier systems have been in use in the Department for the last six to eight months on a multi-carrier basis in the country and, when I left office, on a single carrier basis in the city? What nonsense is he trying to tell this House when he says these systems have not yet been introduced?

I understood the Deputy's question to ask if it was being used commonly and it is not. The ex-Minister should know that. If he does not, he is obviously not aware of what is happening in the Department.

Would the Minister admit stocks ran out two months ago?

There is no truth in that.

There was no money to pay for more.

Whose fault was that?

The Department are using so much of this stock that the Minister did not even know it was in use. The Deputy should not try to protect the Minister.

The Deputy is admitting Fianna Fáil left no money.

Deputy Brennan.