Tá daoini ann agus ceapann siad ná ceart cur sios ar aon cheist a bhaineas leis an nGaoluinn no leis an nGaeltacht ac amhain as Gaoluinn agus ná ceart aon scéal eile do phléidhe as Gaoluinn—aon scéal tábhachtach go háithríd. Ní duine de na daonigh sin mise. Ba mhaith liom go dtuigfeadh Rúnaidhe Pairliminte d'n Aire an rud atá agam le rádh agus, ar an abhar san, labharfad as Béarla.
I put a question to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs which consisted of four parts. I got answers to these four divisions of the question, but the only portion which was satisfactory was that which stated that the person selected as sub-postmaster for Dunfanaghy, Tirconaill, has not yet been finally confirmed in the post. In his reply, the Parliamentary Secretary stated that he was not aware whether or not the candidate, who was fully qualified in Irish, had, or had not, a knowledge of telegraphy. He asserted that the candidate who was qualified in Irish was not qualified in other respects. I should like to know from the Parliamentary Secretary what qualifications, exactly, are required for a sub-postmaster; who makes the appointment; with whom does the ratification lie—with the Parliamentary Secretary, or with the Secretary to the Post Office, or with the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs? One of the applicants for this post, who is fully qualified in Irish, is a trained national teacher who is no longer in the service of the Department of Education. I submit there are many sub-postmasters in Ireland who have not got the educational qualifications that this candidate possesses. One of the great things urged in favour of the person who was selected was that he had a knowledge of telegraphy. Therefore, in the opinion of the Parliamentary Secretary, a knowledge of telegraphy is of much greater importance in the Gaeltacht for a sub-postmaster than a knowledge of Irish. I submit that a knowledge of Irish should be essential in such circumstances and that it would be easier for an Irish speaker, who is a trained teacher, to learn telegraphy than for a person who has some slight knowledge of telegraphy to learn Irish. I submit that the Irish speaker should be given the preference. We are not told that the person who knows Irish well does not also know telegraphy.
There was reference made to the practice of the Post Office in these matters. Reference was made also to the White Paper. I suggest that it is neither economical nor efficient to appoint to a post office in the Gaeltacht a person who is to pay somebody else to do the work while he draws the salary. That does not make for efficiency or economy. Dunfanaghy is not the only instance of this anomaly. I would ask that when vacancies occur in such places as Belmullet, Blacksod, Dingle, Waterville and elsewhere, where the postmasters are ignorant of Irish, the alleged policy of the Post Office should be carried out and a knowledge of Irish required from those who are appointed to succeed them. The dates in connection with this Dunfanaghy appointment are rather significant. I believe, from what I know of local history, that the roots of the matter go back to 1925. Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary understands what I mean by that. If he makes inquiries locally he will understand. The vacancy occurred towards the end of September or the beginning of October. I had a letter on the 28th October stating that, if at all possible, an Irish speaker would be appointed. the matter was adjourned time and again —I do not know why. The appointment was made within one week of the adjournment of the Dáil. Whether that was a coincidence or not I do not know.