asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is yet in a position to state when the work of erecting a new central sorting and delivery office at Pearse Street, Dublin, will be commenced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Sorting and Delivery Office.
The preparations for the first portion of the work are not yet complete, and so far as can be seen it will not be possible to commence building operations for some months. Every effort is being made to expedite the matter.
Arising out of the Minister's answer and the promises made by him in June, 1933——
Not a promise but a statement.
——that the work would be commenced in September of that year, might I ask the Minister now if there is any real danger that this building will be reconstructed in the year 1935?
Mr. Boland
I have just as much interest in this building as the Deputy has, but the House must understand that the work is a very big one, and certain detailed alterations have to be made in the plans and alterations, and the other things connected with the building, and all these necessitate a lot of time. I am never going to commit myself again to saying that I hope to have a building finished at any given time. I did that once, I quite admit, but I am not going to do it again.
I do not want the Minister to be repeatedly penitent about his promises of the past, but I put it to him that it is two years since he made a definite promise that the work would be commenced then. The size of the problem seems to bear a close relationship to the delay of the Department in carrying out the work. If the Minister will implement the promise he made to me in 1933, we will forgive him for his rash promises in the past.
Can the Minister say if the plans are yet finished?
Mr. Boland
When the plans are finished what happens is that they have to be gone over again, and alterations are often found very necessary. I am sure the Deputy has that sort of experience himself in the building line. In all work of that kind that sort of delay occurs. The present delay in connection with the plans and the alterations that have to be made are responsible. I am certain Deputy Norton had no necessity to put down the question at all, because he knows more about it than anyone else in the country. He has the members of his Union there on the spot.
Arising out of the Minister's answer, I want to say that it is clear that the more he talks on this matter the more he learns about it, but I would like to draw the Minister's attention to the fact——
Is this a question?
Yes, a question. Is the Minister aware of the fact that a promise was made over 13 years ago that this building would be reconstructed? Surely it is time that something tangible was done and that the work should be proceeded with.
I asked the Minister when the plans would be finished, and he said that they would have to be gone over again. That is not an answer to my question.
Mr. Boland
I said that quite a number of alterations had to be made in the plans and that these necessitated delays. But the work will be proceeded with as soon as possible.
Will the Minister say when it is going to be started?
Mr. Boland
I am not going to commit myself definitely to any date any more in relation to matters of that kind.