asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs what is the cause of the delay in erecting new post office buildings in Letterkenny and when it is expected that work will commence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Letterkenny Post Office.
A further alteration in the sketch plans became necessary to provide for the setting back of the building to meet the wishes of the Letterkenny Urban District Council in the matter of town planning. The Commissioners of Public Works subsequently prepared the contract drawings which are at present under examination in my Department. It is not possible to give a date for the commencement of building operations but every effort will be made to have the work started at the earliest practicable date.
Surely it will be agreed there has been undue delay in this case? Is the Minister aware of the outlandishly unsuitable accommodation there has been in Letterkenny for a considerable number of years, and will he not even now, in view of all that delay and the very grave hardship that is caused to the people of that town, try to get through the red tape which has been strangling the proposal for a number of years?
As far as I know it the story is that following the submission of sketch plans Letterkenny Urban District Council requested that the proposed building be set back for town planning purposes and to meet their wishes an amended plan was prepared. The plan was later approved and the preparation of contract drawings subsequently put in hand by the Commissioners of Public Works. These were received in March, 1956. The examination of them by my Department has reached the final stage and subject to some minor changes will probably be approved next week. Allowing for the time required for the preparation of the bill of quantities and the invitation and consideration of tenders it is hardly possible to say accurately when the contract will be placed. It will probably take six months.
Is the Minister aware that as far back as 1950-51 his predecessor gave us to understand that the matter was going ahead, that it was just round the corner? Now it turns out, two years later, that nothing has been done about it.
I cannot give a guarantee that the work will start short of six months anyway.