asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the reasons why the time during which telegrams are delivered in Cobh has been shortened; and whether, in view of the importance of Cobh as a tourist traffic port, he will take immediate steps to restore the Cobh post office to its former classification and arrange for a 24-hour telegram delivery service, as obtains in Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airport.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cobh Telegram Service.
Hand delivery of telegrams is generally determined by the ordinary hours of business at post offices. With the exceptions of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airport where special circumstances exist, all post offices including Cobh now close not later than 6.30 p.m. Telegraph facilities are, however, provided exceptionally at Cobh for the convenience of passengers when liners call at the port outside the normal hours of business at Cobh post office. These arrangements provide adequately for the needs at Cobh; the extension of the normal hours of post office business or the introduction of a 24-hour telegraph service is not warranted.
Is the Minister aware that on some occasions you have two liners a day in there, on other occasions no less than three to four liners during a week, and that the volume of passenger traffic is at least ten times greater than at Shannon Airport where these facilities are provided?
My information in connection with the call of liners at Cobh is that the number is 13 per week. Special provision is made and officers are made available whenever they call. A lot call during the daylight hours but whenever they call outside working hours, arrangements exist for the handling of telegrams for the convenience of passengers, incoming and outgoing.
The number of hours in which telegrams may be delivered has been cut down by three hours a day. I would like to know why that is.
The office hours in Cobh are the same as everywhere else with the exception of the places mentioned, Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airport.
Why was the change made?
All the offices throughout the country close at 6.30 p.m. The same hours govern all the offices except those mentioned, Dublin, Cork, and Shannon Airport. At Cobh special arrangements are made for dealing with the telegrams of passengers, incoming and outgoing.
No.