asked the Minister for for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (a) the cause of delay in proceeding with the work of reconstruction on the two houses at Main Street, Loughrea, County Galway, purchased last April by his Department to serve as a new post office, and (b) whether a contract for the work has been placed; and, if so, when work will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Loughrea Post Office.
The Deputy is in error when he says the two houses at Loughrea which are to be reconstructed as a new post office were purchased in April last. I informed him on the 24th of May that negotiations were still in progress and the legal formalities necessary before possession could be taken were not completed until September in one case, and October in the other.
Tenders have since been invited for adaptation of a part of the property as an improved temporary office and for certain essential restoration works. Building operations should commence in the near future. The full reconstruction works will be undertaken as soon as possible.
Am I to understand from the Minister that a contract has been placed?
What I stated was that "tenders have since been invited." We only got possession in October.
A great deal of inconvenience is being caused to the staff and the general public in this case. Is the Minister aware that one of these houses, a fine stone building, is roofless, and that every day that passes increases the deterioration of the building? Will he urge on the Department the necessity of going on as expeditiously as possible with the work?