asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin as she is an elderly lady living alone and is anxiously in need of a service particularly since she had a serious accident recently.

Within the next three months or so.

10.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether a telephone service will be supplied to a person (details supplied) who has been on the list for three years as she is very ill and is urgently in need of service.

Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year.

11.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is urgently in need of service.

In about a year.

12.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a person (details supplied) in Dublin who is a senior citizen living alone.

In about a year.

13.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for a school principal (details supplied) in Dublin as it is required urgently.

In about a month.

14.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if his Department is in a position to provide a facility whereby the telephone line in a doctor's surgery (details supplied) in Dublin may be switched through to the home of whichever doctor is on duty and also provide more lines to the surgery.

The required facilities will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that it will be possible to do so for about a year.

I am anxious to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that my question refers to doctors' surgeries. Is the Minister aware of the seriousness of the situation that arises because a busy surgery accommodating three doctors has but one telephone line? Is it not possible to install overhead cables to provide a service so as to prevent serious problems arising in emergency cases?

For the Deputy's information I should like to state that at present there is only one telephone line at that address. Two additional lines were applied for on 14 January 1981 and on 2 September 1981 each of the three doctors applied for an external extension from that address to their homes. Provision of the required facilities, including lines at that address, is dependent on completion of cabling work to serve the area. Because of the volume of engineering work on hands requiring attention in the Dublin district it is unlikely that it will be possible to provide a service for about a year. I appreciate Deputy Andrews' concern. I am aware of the need for the facilities and I will ask the Department to pay special attention to the matter and report back to the Deputy as soon as possible.

I appreciate the content of the Minister's reply but I should like to know if he is aware of the improvements in technology whereby the type of services the doctors are seeking can be provided?

There is a restriction due to the non-availability of cable in the area. Modern technology still depends on such cabling. In the circumstances, the Deputy should allow me to request my Department to come back to him with the report as quickly as possible.

15.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when it is expected to have a telephone installed for a person (details supplied) in Dublin.

A survey is being carried out to ascertain if cable is available to meet this application. The applicant will be advised of the result of the survey as soon as possible.