asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in respect of north Dublin city the plans there are, and the timetable for them, for the installation of new cabling to meet the demand for telephone applications; if he will outline area by area and possibly street by street when it is likely that the demand for telephone applications will be met; and if he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take in this matter.
Written Answers. - Dublin Telephone Service.
298.
One of the objectives of the current accelerated telephone development programme is to get into a position by the end of 1984, if possible, where all applications for telephone service can be met promptly. In the case of the north Dublin city area, as in the country generally, this will involve extensive cabling works in all areas which it will take some years to carry out.
Major cabling schemes planned for the north Dublin city area involve factors such as trenching, laying ducts, pulling in cables, jointing, and distribution. Because of the number of different types of work involved it is not practicable to programme work in such fashion as would enable the information required to be given on an area by area or street by street basis. It is expected, however, that about 90 per cent of the existing waiting applicants in the area will have been offered service by the end of next year and the balance of 10 per cent will be given service over the following year or so according as the remaining cabling, exchange etc., schemes required to meet them are completed.