asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the effect the present strike by 183 field staff employed by a company (details supplied) is having on the installation of automatic exchanges throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The overall effect is, regrettably, to delay planned improvements in the telephone service such as conversion of manual exchanges to automatic working, replacement of obsolescent equipment, relief of congestion and provision of new exchanges to cater for new subscribers and more traffic. At present, the installation and commissioning of over 100 automatic exchanges are affected. Pending a settlement of the strike, it is not possible to assess how long it will take to clear the backlog and what the impact may be on exchange projects not yet due to start in normal course. When the strike is settled, the contractor will be pressed to recover as much as possible of the ground lost, but it will obviously not be possible to recover the ground fully in the short term.

I understand that the machinery available for resolution of the dispute is being availed of by both parties.

Will the Minister name the telephone regions covered by that strike? Is it confined to the western region or does it affect other regions?

It affects all regions where the developing programme is in progress for the installation of new equipment. The programme is, generally, in progress throughout the country. The strike affects Dublin more than other areas. It affects the Waterford trunk and local exchanges and in Dublin it affects the Crown Alley local exchange, Dolphin's Barn local exchange, Swords, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Lucan and Cabra.

It does not affect the Drogheda area?

I do not have any information to that effect.

They had a problem in that area.

It is possible that it had some affect. A total of 100 exchanges are affected and I only mentioned a few of them.

Will the Minister have a look at Lough Gowna and Finea where the buildings have been erected?

I will do that.

I assume that the strike is in the factory in Dublin, Ericsson?

Yes.

In the circumstances will the Minister consider approaching the Minister for Labour and asking him to intervene in this dispute which has been going on for 12 weeks?

It has been going on since 8 August.

Is the Minister taking any steps to resolve this matter, because there are serious issues involved. I assume the Minister received representations from the employees concerned. Would the Minister request the Minister for Labour to intervene in this dispute because a serious situation is developing and it appears that it is being ignored by the Department.

The Deputy cannot pursue every hare raised by way of supplementary.

This is a serious matter which affects many employees.

If so the Deputy should put down a question about it.

The question on the Order Paper is adequate. Will the Minister approach the Minister for Labour and ask him to intervene?

The machinery available for the resolution of the dispute is being used by both parties.

It is not being used.

18.