asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the arrangements for the completion of the microwave link at Tuam, County Galway; and if there is any change in the date already set for the completion of this project.

Work on the provision of a permanent microwave link between Galway and Tuam is in progress and it is expected that it will be completed in the second quarter of 1982. The aim had been to have the link in service this year but delay in completion of the tower at the Galway terminal has prevented this.

Because of the delay a temporary radio link was brought into service earlier this year and this will meet requirements fully until the permanent link becomes available.

Now that the provision of the micro-wave link has been postponed until mid-1982 I should like to know if in the interim a mast could be put on the microwave link? Is it technically possible to link it directly to Athlone because it serves most of Mayo, all the 093 area, all the 094 area and all the 092 area? If that was possible it would give tremendous relief to those areas. Is it possible to introduce that interim arrangement pending the final installation of the telecommunication exchange in Galway?

I am assured by the engineers concerned that the radio link serves equally as well as the microwave link and that the only difference would be that the microwave link would be a permanent construction unlike the radio link. The Deputy may take credit for having that installed, but it is serving equally as well as the microwavelink. There would be no advantage in changing the present arrangements.

I am concerned about an area outside the 093 area which the radio link now serves. I should like to inform the Minister that there is an 092 area operating in Tuam which the radio link does not serve. He should also consider the 094 area, which serves Castlebar and most parts of Mayo. My question is a simple one. Technically speaking, is it possible to readjust the microwave link to connect directly to Athlone and then on to the national grid rather than waiting for the connection to Galway city, the permanent and proper way to do it eventually?

I will have that considered, but if the Deputy had asked that question initially I would have had all the information for him today. That is not the question he asked and the information I have given was an answer to his question. The deep interest the Deputy had in the Tuam area in providing the necessary radio link between Galway and Tuam has served that area well and he deserves full credit for that.

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