Youghal Town Council is to make submission to eircom for the retention of some public payphones in the town. February’s town council meeting heard councillors intimate they may also make submissions at a personal level. By Christy Parker/Photo Kieran McCarthy(YoughalOnline.com)

Cllr. Barbara Murray aired issue, referring to the company’s decision to remove its eight phone boxes from Youghal’s streets by March 16th. The nearest public payphone to Youghal would be in Midleton or Dungarvan, towns where some are being retained. Cllr. Murray said eircom’s area representative had told her all the phones would be removed in the absence of any submissions. This seemed to indicate that some reprieve is possible if representation is made. She advocated retentions approximate to Dolphin’s Square and the Garda station.
The councillor said provision of the service is as important as profit making and a lot of people, tourists included, would still be dependent on public call boxes in various circumstances.
Cllr Murray’s argument is supported by an e-mail to website www.youghalonline.com whence an American family wrote of their mobile phone status not meeting  requirements in Ireland and they being reliant on public call boxes to contact relatives and accommodation.

Those wishing to make submissions are asked to contact: S. Culbert, Regional Payphone Manager, Eircom HQ, Waterford City, Co. Waterford. Tele: (051) 873268. E-mail: sculbert@eircom.ie