asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the job losses that will occur in respect of both whole and part-time employment of his Department's telephonists, as a result of the South West Donegal constituency becoming automatic.

There are two Departmentally staffed exchanges in the constituency—Donegal and Ballybofey. There are 36 full-time and 20 part-time staff at Donegal and 13 full-time and six part-time staff at Ballybofey.

Operator services will be retained at Donegal on an interim basis after automatic service is introduced in the area. The volume of operator-assisted traffic there will, however, be greatly reduced under automatic conditions and there will, therefore, be a substantial reduction in the number of staff according as automation proceeds throughout the area dependent on Donegal.

Ballybofey manual exchange will close when it is converted to automatic working and operator requirements will cease.

Full-time staff who become surplus to local requirements will have the option of transferring to another exchange or resigning. Full-time staff transferring will be paid a resettlement allowance and those who opt to resign will be paid compensation.

Part-time staff are recruited locally for specific exchanges. It may be possible to offer a small number of them working long hours employment at another exchange but other night staff will have their services terminated and be paid compensation.

While we welcome developments in Donegal in relation to automation, will the Minister of State say what definite assurances, if any, were given by him when he met those people on the question of automation?

I have already visited the telephonists in Donegal town and have spoken to them. As the Deputy acknowledged, when exchanges are made automatic one of the prices that has to be paid is major redundancies of telephonists. That is to be regretted but it is the price of progress. Most of the people working on switchboards in our telephone service appreciate this and, recognising the great services that have been provided by them, the Department have entered into one of the most generous schemes of redundancy payments ever negotiated with a trade union. Most of the people who will become redundant are satisfied the money is right but I acknowledge that most of them would like to continue at work. I have talked with the operators in Donegal; I have an invitation to meet the operators in Ballybofey and I hope to do that as soon as I can arrange a suitable date.

Will the Minister inform me of the final settlement when the negotiations are completed? I should like to know the terms of negotiation.

It is not normal for this type of information to be given in the House. Apparently some Deputies yesterday took exception to the fact that I was acting according to convention. Generally the terms of agreement are that six week's pay will be paid to all telephonists for every year they have worked, up to a miximum of two years. A sum of £500 will be paid as a displacement allowance to any girl who opts for a transfer. Any request for a transfer to a particular exchange will be conceded as far as possible. The unions have a major say in this. I cannot guarantee anything other than working out some arrangement with the exchange to which the person requests a transfer. Seniority is another factor. If a senior person in Donegal town opts to go to Sligo, the line of promotion is a point of contention. It is a human matter. I want to pay tribute to the union representatives and members of my staff who negotiated this deal. In the circumstances it is a very generous one.