asked the Postmaster-General: (a) What are the gross receipts of the Post Office service up to the last accounting date, from the 1st January, 1923; (b) what is the gross expenditure on the Post Office service from the 1st January, 1923, up to the last accounting date; (c) what is the gain or loss on the conduct of the Postal service up to the last accounting date, from the 1st January, 1923; (d) what are the rates of pay for the (1) Indoor Staff of the Post Office Service, (2) for the Outdoor Staff; (e) what are the duties of Rural Postmen in addition to the delivery of letters; (f) what is the average length of walk of each rural postman; (g) what was average length of walk in 1914.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POST OFFICE STATISTICS.
Questions such as this, which ask for an elaborate return, should really be put down as a motion asking for a return. In this case, and until such arrangements are made, I would ask the Minister to give a copy of the answer to the Deputy and to have it circulated in the Official Report. The proper procedure is to move for a return.
I will have the reply circulated.
Reply:—1. (a), (b), and (c) It is not possible in the middle of the financial year to give an actual statement of Post Office accounts without much trouble and delay. There are many accounting transactions with other countries and with other departments. I fully reviewed the situation to the Dáil in June last when I indicated that expenditure in the Post Office during the present year would be considerably reduced. So far as I can ascertain from approximate figures, the financial position is working out as I forecasted.
(d) The main classes employed by the Post Office are Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists and Postmen. Their scales of pay vary according to the class of office at which the staff is employed. The highest scale obtains in Dublin, and the weekly rates, including cost of living bonus for Dublin, are:—
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Males), 33s. 4d., rising to 101s.
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Females), 33s. 4d., rising to 71s. 9d. Postmen, 37s., rising to 71s. 9d.
And the lowest rates obtaining at the smaller provincial towns are:—
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Males), 29s. 8d., rising to 84s. 3d.
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Females), 29s. 8d., rising to 62s. 11d.
Postmen, 33s. 4d., rising to 62s. 11d.
(e) Rural Postmen are employed in the delivery of letters and parcels, in the collection of letters and parcels, and on some incidental duties thereto.
(f) The limits of travelling for rural postmen are fixed, and are, for a walking postman 18 miles a day, and for a cycling postman 26 to 28 miles a day. The duties are revised occasionally to see that these limits are worked up to as closely as possible but not exceeded.
(g) There has been no change in the regulation limits since 1914.