asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone account bills disputed by subscribers at present under examination in his Department; and the total arrears due from subscribers.

Separate records are not kept of the number of telephone bills under dispute at any one time as distinct from those in regard to which additional information has been sought. The total amount of telephone revenue outstanding on telephone accounts at end September 1983 amounted to about £23.5 million out of an estimated annual revenue of about £290 million.

The Minister should have the information in his brief about the number of telephone calls which are disputed. I do not think he has given me the answer to—

A question, please, Deputy.

I am asking the Minister to answer my question.

You are not asking a question.

My question is No. 15 on the Order Paper asking the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of telephone account bills disputed by subscribers at present under examination in his Department.

When I tried to guide the Deputy he was making a short speech commenting on the answer and that is not in order. I would encourage the Deputy to ask a question.

Will the Ceann Comhairle give me guidance as to whether that question has been answered?

That is not part of the function of the Chair.

The amount is £23.5 million.

The amount is £23.5 million.

An amount of £23.5 million is at this stage disputed by consumers and the number of people involved indicates that there is something radically wrong with the system.

Will the Deputy please ask a question?

It could be 23,000 people. It could be 45,000 subscribers.

Will the Deputy ask a question?

How many subscribers are in dispute with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs at present?

It is very hard to identify how many of those subscribers are in dispute with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and identifying what a subscriber wants may be a problem. They may write in looking for additional information. They may write in about the rental of the telephone or about the amount they have been charged. These cannot be described as disputes until all available avenues have been explored and it can be said clearly that they differ from the Department in what they are talking about.

The Minister is covering up the whole situation.

I am insisting that the Deputy ask a question.

I am asking the Minister a question. In view of the amount of money due is it not time that he instituted a major review of the accounts system in his Department which is totally chaotic and he is doing nothing about it?

Order for Deputy McEllistrim.

I can remember well what I am talking about.