Committee demands proper phone service in isolated areas

The chairman of the Oireachtas communications committee is demanding proper telephone services for isolated rural communities.

Members of the committee are travelling to the Black Valley in Kerry today to view the out-dated phone system residents have been using for more than 15 years.

More than 900 people in isolated areas throughout the country are using the battery-run Rurtel system, which they say is unreliable.

Residents and mountain rescue teams in Kerry are especially concerned because of the number of accidents and rescue operations on mountains every year.

Speaking ahead of today's visit, committee chairman Noel O'Flynn said a better system should be made available as soon as possible.

"This is not acceptable in the modern age of technology where you must have proper telecommunications and access to the Internet as well," he said.

"We must bring all communities into the modern telecommunications age and bring forward solutions which can be accepted by government and also by eircom, who have a universal service obligation."