asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (a) if he will consider reverting to the former system of postal delivery at Newcastle, County Dublin, and (b) whether he will take steps to improve the present method of postal delivery from Celbridge which is unsatisfactory from the point of view of the time of receipt of letters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postal Services.
It would not be possible to revert to the postal delivery arrangements in force about 10 years ago at Newcastle without seriously reducing the wages of part-time postmen at neighbouring offices. In the circumstances I am not prepared to make any change in the present arrangements. It is not practicable to afford an earlier delivery from Celbridge as this could only be done by despatching the mail van from Dublin at an earlier hour, and this would mean that some provincial correspondence would not be in time for the despatch and would therefore suffer a day's delay.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that in the townlands of Lisheen, Ballyerk, Lisdownowley and Kilclooney, in the district of Moyne, Templemore, Tipperary, there is a postal delivery only on four days per week; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have a daily delivery made in the area.
I am aware that these townlands are afforded a four-day postal delivery only. I find, however, that the existing service is being maintained at a heavy loss and the further substantial expenditure which would be necessary in order to provide a daily delivery would not, therefore, be justified.
I will have the matter re-examined when the Templemore district is being surveyed in connection with the reorganisation of the postal services generally; which is at present in hands.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is prepared to have an outward postal service provided from Carrigaline, County Cork, on Sundays, in view of the fact that Crosshaven, which is five miles further distant from Cork City, has had such a service for many years.
It is not the general policy of the Department to occasion Sunday working in post offices by affording Sunday collection and despatch facilities at sub-offices. In fact only six head-offices in the country have Sunday despatch. Exceptions are made in the case of a few Dublin sub-offices and three sub-offices in Cork. Of these Crosshaven has had a Sunday despatch to Cork for many years and this is considered warranted especially in the summer season, in view of Crosshaven being the immediate holiday resort for Cork City.
In the circumstances, it is regretted that Carrigaline cannot be given the facility requested.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is prepared to provide a postal collection box in the village of Raffeen, Monkstown, County Cork.
I find that the establishment of a letter box at Raffeen is warranted and arrangements for its erection will be made as soon as possible.