asked the Postmaster - General whether, having regard to the fact that there is only a tri-weekly delivery of letters in the rural districts, with the consequence that many people in those districts call for their letters at the Post Offices on Sundays, steps will not be taken to discontinue the charge which is at present made for handing those letters to callers.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - LETTER DELIVERIES.
The Deputy appears to be under a misapprehension. The delivery of letters in rural districts is not restricted generally to three days a week, there being a large number of posts working on six days a week. All Post Offices other than those at which telegraph business is transacted, are closed on Sundays, and there is no delivery of letters to callers at any offices on that day. Whether it is advisable to revert to postal labour on Sundays which, apart from other objections, would entail additional expenditure, is another matter.
Arising out of that answer, I do not think the Minister has answered the question I have asked him; that is, will he take steps to discontinue the charge which is at present made for handing those letters to callers on Sunday—will that charge be taken off in view of the fact that so many deliveries have been discontinued?
That matter will be considered.
asked the Postmaster-General whether any steps have been taken to secure the delivery of letters from the Mullinahone Post Office to the Cappauagrane and Poulacapple districts, as at present there is no delivery to those districts.
I beg to refer the Deputy to my reply of the 2nd November to Deputy D'Alton on the subject. There has been no change meanwhile.
Arising out of that, might I ask the Minister, in view of the answer he gave Deputy D'Alton and the promise contained therein, that immediate steps will be taken to see that that delivery is re-started, as the people of those districts suffer great inconvenience owing to the lack of better facilities?
So far we have been unable to materialise, but we are losing no opportunity of getting those deliveries going.
asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the present inadequate delivery to rural districts, he will make provision for the sorting of mails received on Saturday nights so that callers may receive letters contained in these mails on Sunday mornings?
The matter is receiving consideration.