Business at the Leaf bubblegum factory is suffering because of an antiquated local telephone system.
The Leaf factory in Kilcock County Kildare which manufactures confectionery, employs over three hundred people. Leaf exports over eighty five per cent of its product, with most of custmoers placing orders via the telephone.
However for the past six months the company has been beset by telephone problems, with customers unable to contact them.
Some customers have switched to making orders by Telex (a text based message communication system), but this technology is generally not used by smaller operations.
Leaf general manager Fred Galvin lays the blame at the door of Telecom Éireann,
We must have lost between January and now between £1 to £1.5 million in sales.
Telecom Éireann acknowledges the issues with the aging Kilcock telephone exchange. Senior engineer Paddy Ryan says that the situation is due to improve.
We intend to replace the exchange in the next two months.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 July 1984. The reporter is Fergal Keane.
