andMr. T. Lynch asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether there will be a restriction of pillar box collections in any part of the city of Waterford as a result of the recent survey.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Pillar Box Collections.
48.
It is intended to reorganise the collection services from letter boxes in Waterford city. At present a collection, which does not connect with the night mail despatches, is made at 8.30 p.m. from nearly all the City's letter boxes. With a few exceptions, the number of items collected per box on this service is very small and the total falls far short of justifying the expense involved. It is proposed, therefore, to limit the late clearances to a selected number of boxes at key points in the city, in the manner that obtains in Dublin and in other provincial cities and large towns. This minor restriction will be more than counter-balanced by a general improvement in the times of collection for the day and night mail despatches, including the substitution of 7.15 p.m. for 6.15 p.m. as the latest time for night-mail posting at the Head Post Office.
Our experience in Waterford—and I should like to ask the Minister if it will be repeated—is that whenever an inspector is sent down to review the postal services in Waterford the services are always restricted. Is the Minister aware that the last time a review was made the customs parcel post was taken out of Waterford? Is the Minister further aware that in the outlying parts of Waterford if a letter is posted under what is described as "the new review," say this evening, it may not be delivered in the city until the day after to-morrow?
It is difficult to deal by question and answer with the points raised here by the Deputy. This is a complex matter. It needs a certain amount of study to go into the times of collection and delivery but a survey of three postal clearance areas in Waterford City was made the basis for a revised scheme and it has already been discussed with local Post Office Workers' Union. It appeared to me from the information I have that a number of the clearances which already obtain from the post boxes in the city of Waterford was useless because the letters did not get any prior forwarding treatment; they had to wait until the next collection from the same boxes, and from the information available I am satisfied that the new arrangement will mean a better collection service and better forwarding services from the city.
Would the Minister say that before making an Order to have this revision made definite, he will also consult with Waterford Chamber of Commerce and with Waterford merchants?
Would the Minister state if this revision is to be confined to Waterford city or does it cover the city and county as well?
The question deals with Waterford city and I am dealing only with Waterford city now. The Deputy knows that there is at the moment a general reorganisation of the postal services all over the country and that it has been going on for some years. If that reorganisation has not yet taken place in County Waterford it will be proceeded with.