asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if in connection with his statement in the Dáil on 9th February, 1961, that the effect of the introduction of the group system of telephone exchanges was to convert a great number of trunk calls into local calls at an estimated cost of £160,000 a year, he will give the estimated loss to subpostmasters by the introduction of the system.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Telephone Exchange Group System: Loss to Subpostmasters.
50.
It would not be possible without a heavy expenditure of staff time, which I consider would not be warranted, to form a reliable estimate of the effect of the group charging system on sub-postmasters' salaries. It may meet the Deputy's purposes, however, if I say that there has been no special revision of sub-postmasters' salaries as a result of the introduction of the group charging system. Of 745 salaries reviewed in routine course during 1960, 171 were reduced involving a total reduction of £3,823 a year and 574 were increased involving a total increase of £9,496 a year. The salaries at a further 194 offices were reviewed but no change was made. The revisions covered other business as well as telephone work.