asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when work is expected to commence on building the new post office in Carlow town.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Carlow Post Office.
93.
I am not yet in a position to say when work will commence on the building of a new post office in Carlow town. The proposed building scheme will provide for a new post office, automatic exchange area engineering headquarters, and office accommodation for other Government Departments. My Department is making every effort to have the building work started and completed as soon as possible.
Owing to the reduction carried out in the provision made in 1956 the Minister has not been able to get cracking.
That is not the reason on this occasion.
The Deputy did damage enough that time.
Is the Minister aware that it is two years since Carlow County Council was pressed by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to clear that site in Carlow and that a stone has not yet been laid on it?
I am aware that Carlow County Council, after this site was purchased in 1948, purchased a site convenient to it, that a road had to be laid down and that the Post Office donated part of the site to the county council for that purpose. I am also aware that there are some legal formalities for the exchange of the properties between the Department and the county council still outstanding and that the delay is not caused by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Can the Minister say, if this legal aspect were cleared up, how long after that would it take to start the building of the post office?
The formulation of plans is a matter for the Office of Public Works and I would not under any circumstances attempt——
Hear, hear!
——to name a date. If the Deputy took the matter up with the Office of Public Works he would be doing the Department a service. We are pressing for the completion of the plans and would like to have the building completed because we know that conditions in Carlow Post Office are not too good.