asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone lines available between Clifden and Galway; if only about ten of these lines are operational at any one time; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

19.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the numerous faults on the co-axial cable between Clifden and Galway resulting in an extremely poor telephone service in the Clifden exchange area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

20.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when an automatic telephone service will be made available to subscribers to Clifden Exchange, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together.

There are 31 circuits from Clifden to Galway and 27 circuits in the reverse direction. The area is served by overhead cable and much of the route is over exposed country leaving the cable particularly liable to damage during bad weather. There is therefore a high incidence of faults, particularly in recent months, and the number of circuits in use can vary appreciably from time to time.

Planned improvements in the Clifden area include the provision of a new digital radio link to Galway and the conversion of Clifden and its dependent exchanges to automatic working. However, having regard to the size of the programme, it is unlikely that all these works will be completed until 1984. In the light of the frequent disruptions in recent months my Department are considering urgently what interim measures can be taken to improve the quality of service as quickly as possible. I will write to the Deputy as soon as this examination has been completed.

Does the Minister consider it fair and just that a whole section of countryside should be deprived of telephone communication at such regular intervals and for such long periods? There is no worthwhile telephone service in the west Connemara area and there has not been any for the past year or so. The service that is allegedly available is a farce.

A question, Deputy, please.

Could the Minister give a guarantee that the automatic programme that is in train will be brought forward to 1982 and completed before the end of this year, because this is an area where unemployment is way above the national average and the little industry which is there is being crippled due to the lack of a telephone service? It is an area which is dependent on tourists, mostly foreign, who cannot contact their homes and therefore will not come to the area. It is having a detrimental effect on the whole economy of a very large section of my constituency. I appeal to the Minister to take immediate steps to accelerate the provision of the automatic service which is already under way. Could it be brought forward for completion before the end of this year?

As Minister of State, I shall endeavour to ensure that the programme is kept on target and, if possible, improved. I appreciate the position in that area which can be virtually isolated due to the breakdown of service. I will ask my senior technical staff, in the light of what the Deputy has requested, to seek a possible alternative to ensure that there will be continuity of service. At this stage I am not in a position to give an undertaking as to when the programme will be completed but I will try to have it done as quickly as possible.

I am grateful to the Minister of State for coming a bit of the road with me. Would he give an assurance that every effort will be made by the technical officials in his Department to bring the completion of the automatic telephone programme forward to the end of this year? We cannot wait until 1984.

I have already stated my views in this regard. I shall try to visit the engineering headquarters in Galway to discuss this problem with the technical staff and I assure the Deputy that his views will be brought to their attention.

21.