asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state why the letters directed to Carraroe, Co. Galway, and the surrounding districts, are allowed to lie in Galway from the arrival of the morning mail about 11 a.m. on one day until 6 a.m. on the next day before being despatched, thereby causing considerable inconvenience to the residents, as well as to a large number of tourists who visit these areas for fishing and other purposes during the summer months; further, if the residents in these areas have sent a petition to the Minister urging that the motor services which leave Galway for these places at 6 a.m. should be altered to leave immediately after the arrival of the day mail train and return in time for the evening mail to Dublin, thus removing the inconvenience without incurring any additional expenditure, and if he will state whether arrangements can be made to grant this request.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POSTAL FACILITIES IN CO. GALWAY.
The present postal service in the Carraroe area which works out of the night mail arrival at Galway has been in force for many years. I have received the petition referred to by the Deputy and in connection with proposals which are under consideration for the improvement of the postal services in the Galway area, including Connemara, I hope to be able to meet the memorialists' wishes. The changes of services involved will, however, be extensive, and some months must necessarily elapse before they can be carried out.
Would the Minister endeavour to have these improvements effected before a large number of tourists visit that area, because otherwise it would cause very considerable inconvenience, as the Minister is aware, to tourists and others who visit that district during the summer months? If the Minister could see his way to expedite the improvements it would be greatly appreciated not only by the people of the district but by the people who visit it.
I realise the necessity for improving the service, and I will do my best to do so.