asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he has received a request to establish a sub-post office at Killurine, Tullamore, County Offaly, in view of the fact that the nearest office is four miles away and that new houses have been built recently in the area; and, if so, if he will approve of its establishment and thereby give good local service.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offaly Sub-Post Office.
I have received representations for the establishment of a sub-office at Killurine and I have carefully considered the matter. I regret, however, that the amount of postal business likely to be transacted would not justify the expense of establishing and maintaining the proposed office, particularly as the existing services in the area are being provided at a loss.
Does the Minister consider it reasonable that old age pensioners should be obliged, if they have no other means of transport, to walk four miles to draw their pensions? Does he not consider that that fact alone warrants the giving of more sympathetic consideration by the Department to the application? Further, in view of the fact that there is a large number of newly-erected houses in the area—and I understand that the local authority has under consideration the erection of further houses in the Killurine district—will he have the matter reconsidered at an early date?
I am always willing to have applications for sub-offices reviewed, if the population increases, but, as I understand at the moment, the estimate of letters to be received weekly through this office is away below the minimum required by the Post Office. Secondly, the Deputy should be aware that, in practically all cases, old age pensions can be paid through agents.
Surely the Minister realises that, apart from the posting of letters and the purchase of stamps, there are other facilities, such as the use of the telephone and the money order business, which a post office would bring to the area? Does he not consider that, when a reasonable demand like this is made, his Department should endeavour to meet the wishes of the local people, particularly in view of the fact that the population in the area has considerably increased as a result of the erection of new houses quite recently?
We will take all these considerations into account.
You will or you do?
We will in future, when we make another examination of the position.