asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the cause of the delay in carrying out the necessary alterations to the Kildare post office, and when the work will be put in hands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kildare Post Office.
The scheme of improvements to be carried out at Kildare post office was postponed until the present financial year for economy reasons.
I am informed by the Commissioners of Public Works that they expect to be in a position to advertise for tenders in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that there is on the file in the Board of Works a letter indicating that tenders were being invited and that it was expected early in February that this work would be put in hands in the course of the next three weeks? Does the Minister's reply mean that the matter has been further postponed?
The only further information I can give the Deputy is that in November, 1955, as a result of a request for tenders a figure was obtained which was then considered too high. The following January, 1956, a further tender was sought and the figure then had risen by almost 100 per cent. Following the receipt of that tender in January, 1956, for economic reasons this matter was then postponed and so far as I am aware no further tenders have been invited. However, the decision apparently was taken some time ago to postpone the matter until the financial year 1957-58.
In view of the fact that these repairs and alterations are considered necessary in this office, which is a tiny office and one in which it is extremely difficult for staff to work, would the Minister cause the matter to be brought to the notice of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance with a view to having work started as soon as possible?
I shall certainly do as the Deputy requests, but I think it is rather strange that, when this job could have been done in 1955 at a reasonable cost and was not gone ahead with, the Deputy, who was then a Minister, did nothing to get his colleague to do something about it.
That is so and I have some sympathy with the Minister, but everybody knows the Board of Works is the Board of Works——
Sometimes, I think, it is lack of works.