asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason the south east area of County Galway is not being connected to the 091 or the 0905 code area as all these small local exchanges are being converted to automatic; and the date on which the conversion will take place.

The linking of the south east area of County Galway i.e. the Portumna group of exchanges with the Galway or the Ballinasloe code areas could not be justified on the normal criteria of efficiency and cost. Subscribers in the area will suffer no disadvantage through being linked with the Birr code area as is planned.

The general conversion programme has suffered a set-back through an industrial dispute involving employees of an equipment contractor. However, every effort will be made to effect the conversion of Portumna and the other manual exchanges in south east Galway during the second half of next year.

The Minister of State, who represented that part of Galway for a long time, must be well acquainted with its geography. Will he agree that it is natural for these people to carry on business and have their communications with Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Galway city, areas covered by the codes 0905 and 091?

Will the Minister give an assurance that those living outside those areas will not have to pay extra charges for a local call to the Ballinasloe, Loughrea or Galway areas? They are living nearer to those centres than the area they will be connected to.

The linking of the Portumna group with the Galway or Ballinasloe areas could not be justified on the basis of the normal criteria of efficiency and cost. In fact, it will not make any difference by way of cost to the subscribers when they are linked to Birr.

Is the Minister saying that the local call charge will be available to them even though they are going to another code area?

I am not sure of that. I would not like to commit myself.

With the advancements we have had in telecommunications there should not be any reason why these areas cannot be connected to either Ballinasloe or Galway. Is the Minister aware that there were plans for a special connection in Loughrea and that would have taken place but for the strike that is in progress? The area of ground is available and it would have taken a small amount of time and technical expertise to connect another automatic exchange to cover the areas mentioned in the Portumna district. Will the Minister make special representations to have the Portumna area connected to Loughrea or Ballinasloe?

I am sure the Deputy is familiar with the geography of the area but if he is not, I will give him a run-down on it. It is more suitable to have the exchanges we are talking about connected to Birr than to Ballinasloe or Galway.

The reason they are being connected to Birr is that the old manual system which operates at present is connected to Birr. Is that why the Department produced these plans?

I do not agree. I have already answered that question.

I should like to ask a supplementary question as a result of the reply given to Deputy Wilson.

This is a private question between two Galway Members.

I represent part of Galway.

The areas under discussion are a bit far away from the Deputy's area.

It is possible that the Deputy has his eyes on Europe.

He is doing a good job.

Will the Minister reconsider the decision in the light of the point made by Deputy Wilson?

There is no point in saying I will reconsider it because the decision has been made and I have outlined what will happen.

Does the Minister agree with the point raised by Deputy Wilson, that the cost for subscribers should not be any greater than if they had a Galway number.

Perhaps the Deputy should follow on and say that we should give them a free telephone service because that would be the most worthy thing in the world.

The Minister should look into this matter.

19.