Telephone Service at Tom Clarke House
Gregory sought an urgent telephone connection for senior citizens at Tom Clarke House, citing frequent vandalism and muggings. Donnellan said engineering work was required, other priority requests competed for resources, and the installation cost was disproportionate; service was unlikely before the latter part of the year.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when a telephone service will be provided for the senior citizen flats complex at Tom Clarke House, Ballybough, Dublin 3; if he is aware that Dublin City Council have requested that it be provided as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
: Service will be provided as soon as possible but it is unlikely that the necessary engineering work can be completed before the latter part of this year.
Comment on this
: This problem relates to a senior citizens' flats complex where vandalism and mugging are rampant and virtually a daily and nightly occurrence. In view of those exceptional circumstances, given that the flats complex is in the heart of Dublin, could the Minister investigate why it will take more than a year to provide a single telephone service to this flats complex?
Comment on this
: It is not a question of a telephone service to that area but to the house that the Deputy is talking about. The application warrants priority and attention, but service cannot be provided until additional engineering work has been carried out in the area.
Comment on this
: Will the Minister indicate why additional engineering work cannot be carried out as a matter of urgency, given that he has agreed that it is a priority request?
Comment on this
: I am trying to establish why it is not possible within the short term at least to provide a service to this flats complex. I do not accept——
Comment on this
: I am asking the Minister to indicate the reasons why this work cannot be carried out as a matter of urgency. If he cannot give me those reasons, can he get them for me and communicate them to me?
Comment on this
: The cost of installing a telephone in the premises would be totally out of order in relation to the general cost of providing a service. Not alone does it apply in the case that Deputy Gregory refers to, but it applies in many other cases also.