asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if since his speech in the House on the 16th instant he had seen a letter emanating from his Department dated the 29th January, 1959, advising that the latest time of posting for Kildare at Merrion Row sub-post office is 5 p.m. and at Lower Baggot Street sub-post office is 4 p.m.; and if he will accordingly reconcile this official communication with his statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Sub-Post Offices: Latest Posting Time.
15.
I have seen a copy of the letter. It was sent in reply to a telephone enquiry by the Deputy about posting times at Merrion Row and Lower Baggot Street Sub-Post Offices and at a pillar box in Lower Baggot Street. The understanding of the telephone conversation was that the Deputy wished to know the latest time for posting at each of the three points specified which would ensure first delivery next morning throughout Counties Kildare and Meath and in Ireland and England generally. Only the night mail despatch from Dublin meets this requirement for all those places and the posting times for connexion with that despatch were accordingly given in the letter to the Deputy.
The statements made by me when replying to the recent Debate on the Posts and Telegraphs Estimate were correct and are not inconsistent with the answer given to the Deputy's broad enquiry of January last. In parts of Co. Kildare the morning delivery comprises not merely the previous night's despatch but also correspondence from that morning's Day Mail despatch from Dublin. In these places letters are delivered in the morning which have been posted in Dublin City and Suburban letter boxes up to the latest collection times (varying between 8 p.m. and 10.30 p.m.) on the previous night, or which have been posted up to 4.45 a.m. at the G.P.O. and St. Andrew St. or up to 5 a.m. at Pearse St. that same morning.
Do I understand in regard to the information given in the Department's letter, which says that "the latest times for posting for the general night mail dispatch which includes Kildare ..." that as far as the inclusion of Kildare is concerned, it is wrong and the Minister's times are correct?
We assume that Kildare means County Kildare?
I assume that too.
There is a town of Kildare. A small portion of Kildare was not included in the answers I gave. That is the reason the Deputy had to be given the latest times——
The latest times for posting in my constituency are as I stated them last week.
No, the Deputy cannot say the whole constituency. The greater part of the constituency was covered in the statement I made on the Estimate and which I have read out in reply to the question. Only a very small part is left out.
Would the Minister mind reading out what part that is?
The part of County Kildare which does not get a combined night and day mail delivery is a section in the South for which Athy acts as the distributing office. The section consists of Moon, Castledermot, Ballytore and Narraghmore. The delivery from these four offices would start too late if held up for the day mail.
Would the Minister mind reading what I said again? He will see that I refer to Ballytore, Moon and Castledermot as specific cases.
The Deputy mentioned the whole of County Kildare.