asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when Donegal town exchange will be converted to automatic; and the effect this will have on the present staff, both permanent and temporary.

: Later this year. Operator services will be retained at Donegal on an interim basis after this but the volume of operator-assisted traffic will be greatly reduced. There will, therefore, be a substantial reduction in the number of operating staff needed.

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 employment at another exchange to a small number who have been working long hours, but other night staff will have their services terminated and be paid compensation. I should like to add that I made that announcement in Donegal three weeks ago.

: In view of the disruption of the employees in the Donegal exchange would the Minister give a guarantee here that they will be given employment in, for instance, Letterkenny, Sligo, or adjacent telephone exchanges, preferably in Donegal?

: Full-time staff who have become surplus to local requirements will have the option of transferring to another exchange or resigning. I cannot give any guarantee as to what exchange.

: Would the Minister not agree that to offer these people a post in an exchange in Cork would not lead to a very happy situation for those people who have given such good service?

: I accept that.

: The Minister should accommodate these people in their own native area of Donegal, if possible.

: As the Deputy is aware, it is not the function of the Minister to transfer staff.