Pages 48 and 49 of the programme for Government refer to protecting local services. When Storm Ophelia struck last October, over six months ago, many phone lines were knocked down, as would be expected with any storm, but in quite a number of rural communities many customers were left without a home phone service for up to two months. The residents of Sherkin Island, off Baltimore and Skibbereen in west Cork, have had no home telephone service since last October. Up to 100 residents live on the island and this has led to a loss of business. Many elderly people have been left without any connection to keep them safe in their homes, and these customers still had no connection as of yesterday evening. Can Eir be asked to explain how it can leave customers for over six months without a telephone connection and still can bill them?

Do other Members have related questions?

I do.

I do.

Does Deputy Browne have a related question?

No.

Then we will take Nos. 10 and 12, Deputies Breathnach and Murphy O'Mahony.

My question is about the lack of services in my county over the past fortnight. Many community services have been taken away. In Dundalk, the births, deaths and marriages service has been withdrawn in the town, which is one of the largest in Ireland, and the Dunleer social welfare office has closed. The Minister who is sitting beside the Taoiseach indicated on local radio that this was only a temporary measure.

Is this related to Deputy Michael Collins's question?

Yes. It relates to a community being denuded of its services. In the programme for Government, we and the Taoiseach committed to providing both economic and social services as the economy improved, but the Government is taking services away from people who require them. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Doherty, clearly said on local radio that it was a temporary measure and that the service would reopen. I ask her to indicate that is what will happen because it is not what is being said by people in the social welfare offices in the region.

I also want to ask the question my colleague, Deputy Michael Collins, put. I am also trying to get the phone lines on Sherkin Island working again.

When we contact even the managing director of Eir, we are told that unfortunately, getting wires fixed on Sherkin is weather-dependent. Surely at this stage, six months later, the line should be fixed. It is particularly hard on older people who have safety alarms that cannot work when there is no phone line.

Disgraceful.

Is the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh responding on the three issues?

I will take the slot on islands. I do not have responsibility for births, deaths or marriages but I certainly have islands.

He might have some day.

I was on Sherkin on Thursday. I acknowledge that this specific issue was raised again. The islanders and the community down there have great plans for a digital economy yet are without the basics of a phone line. It is not acceptable. It is outside our hands, it is a matter for Eir, but I certainly will make formal contact with it again. The company indicated that it would do it last Friday but obviously that has not happened. It is a matter of priority. I acknowledge the great work that is being done on Sherkin Island and the councillors there are also doing absolutely tremendous work.

And the Deputies.

Ably assisted by the Deputies and Senators as well.

I refer to the Deputy who has talked about a diminution of services on foot of the closing of the Dunleer office. What I have to tell him is that we have improved the service and I think he is well aware of it.

Not true.

For the purposes of the Official Report, an office was deemed uninhabitable by the HSE and it closed the premises. We did not have premises available to us in that town. There are only six clients availing of services from my Department in that town. They receive a weekly phone call and in most cases, if there is anybody who needs to see us, we go out to see them. We have actually increased and improved the services in that area.

The Minister should say what she said on local radio. I will give her the transcript.

Under the commitment to support our agriculture industry and as a follow-up to the previous issue raised by Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, I note that 85% of the GLAS payments for 2017 have been paid to those who have to date received a payment. There is 15% outstanding to all farmers in receipt of that payment. In light of the difficult circumstances that farmers are experiencing because of the weather crisis, it would be a generous gesture to come forward with that 15%. It is money that is due. Farmers are crying out for some support and this is something that can be done without the need for new budgets or extending any Exchequer figures. I ask the Taoiseach that this be done immediately. It would be of great help to the thousands of farmers in receipt of that payment.

I very much welcome the Deputy's suggestion. I will certainly speak to the Minister, Deputy Creed, later today as to whether it is possible to bring GLAS payments forward for the reason the Deputy suggests.