Telecom Eireann, reporting pre-tax profits cut 40% after exceptional items, says telephone traffic increased by 10% in the year to April 1: new telephone connections reached a record-breaking 127,000 during the year, but price reductions implemented in January 1992 cost it dear; the company now faces two major challenges – improving the cost structure and reducing the debt burden, chairman Ron Bolger said; staff numbers have been reduced by 5,500 to 12,700 since 1984 although it still has 1,000 to 2,000 too many in its core business, and turnover per employee has risen by more than 50% since 1984 and the number of telephone lines per staff member increased to 85 in April, 1993 from 33 in 1984, he added; operating costs have fallen to 57% of turnover in 1993 from 75% in 1984, Bolger said; it has no view on privatisation, and says it is a matter for the government; charges to business customers will fall by 7%, to private customers by 4% under the new pricing regime.
