asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the fact that the transfer of the College Green, Dublin, Post Office to the new building in St. Andrew Street, recently built, was in order to provide additional accommodation and service for the public, and of the complaints which have been made that the service, particularly during the busy period in the evenings, has not been any improvement on that provided in the College Green Post Office, due tothe insufficient staff, he will give the matter his early attention with a view to remedying this grievance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Staffing of New Dublin Post Office.
I am satisfied that the present staff at St. Andrew Street Post Office is now adequate to deal with the traffic and to give a good standard of service to the public.
Is the Minister aware that business people in the College Green area find it more convenient to go to Dame Street Post Office to transact their business, and in view of the fact that this is a good palatial building that has been set up there with some 20 hatches in it but an insufficient staff to cope with the business during the peak period is it not possible to put in some more assistants to relieve the congestion that takes place there?
It was found that the standard of demand for the personnel in St. Andrew Street Post Office varied very widely and rapidly. There has been an increase in the staff to meet the position, but if the Deputy knows of any very recent complaints in regard to queues or any other difficulties I would be very glad if he would communicate with me, because I am given to understand that the number of persons coming there has now become fairly regular and staff is provided to meet the ordinary requirements.
At least five hatches are available for stamps, but my information is that only two people are attending at the counters in the evening and there is congestion there so that people have to walk out and go to Dame Street.
The number of persons attending at any particular time varies, but officers engaged in other duties are brought into the hatches when the number of persons increase and they can be brought in at very short notice. In all main post offices throughout the country hatches can be closed at certain times of the day. Again I want to say that I am very anxious to provide the highest level of service in thatvery splendid post office and I would ask the Deputy to let me know of any recent complaints, because we have had none.
I want to tell the Minister that I have been stopped in the street by people drawing attention to this matter, and I have also had some letters from people resident in the College Green area. This may be information to the Minister, but the Minister can make all the inquiries he likes and he will find that.
Would the Minister examine the possibility of providing a control officer at this office to guide the public to the appropriate hatches for the transaction of business, because I think that would help to prevent some of the congestion that exists here? It has worked effectively in the G.P.O. and would have equally beneficial results here.
I will look into that.