asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state what surface transport for mails to Britain would have cost for 1952 as compared with the outlay of £56,000involved for conveyance by air service and, further, if he will indicate the saving in time involved as a result of air service in mail deliveries to London, Birmingham, Coventry and Manchester and if he is aware that 90 per cent. of the mail in transit to and from Britain is with Irish citizens employed in Britain who would much more appreciate cheaper postage and telegraph rates to slightly speedier mail deliveries achieved by air mail.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of Mails.
The cost of conveyance of mails by air to Great Britain in 1952 was £36,000, approximately, not £56,000 as stated by the Deputy.
I am not in a position to say what the cost would have been if all mails had been conveyed to Great Britain by surface transport.
Deliveries secured via the night air service and by the surface route are:—
|
London |
Air |
1st delivery(7.0 a.m.). |
|
Surface |
2nd delivery(10.30 a.m.). |
|
|
Birmingham |
Air |
1st delivery(7.0 a.m.). |
|
Surface |
2nd delivery(noon). |
|
|
Coventry |
Air |
1st delivery(7.0 a.m.). |
|
Surface |
2nd delivery(noon). |
|
|
Manchester |
Air |
1st delivery(7.0 a.m.). |
|
Surface |
1st delivery(city area)(7.0 a.m.). |
As regards the final part of the question, I am not prepared to accept the Deputy's statement that 90 per cent, of the mail exchanged with Britain is with Irish citizens, or his opinion regarding the attitude of such citizens to the air service.
What is the relative difference in the time of posting in Dublin?
Posting is the same as it was before the establishment of the air mail.
Will the Minister introduce a system which used to be in operation before by which there could be a special late fee post for Britain up to 7.25 p.m. and which is not now in operation?
I will look into that.