Vol. 205 No. 2
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that serious inconvenience was caused to many people, including foreign tourists, by reason of the fact that the penny stamp-vending machine in Skerries Post Office, County Dublin, was empty on Saturday and Sunday, 17th and 18th August last; and why the machine was left empty having regard to the fact that it was empty before the post office closed on the Saturday in question.
101.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the capacity of the postage stamp-vending machines in Skerries, County Dublin; how often they are filled; and if, having regard to the fact that the public frequently experience difficulty in obtaining stamps from those machines, he will ensure that they are filled daily and maintained in proper working condition.
102.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that persons who inserted pennies in the penny stamp-vending machine in Skerries, County Dublin, on 27th August last received no stamps, nor were their pennies returned to them; and if he will have steps taken to ensure that the public do not suffer similar losses in future.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take these three Questions, Nos. 99, 101 and 102, together.
There is a 1d. and a 3d. stamp-vending machine at Skerries Post Office. They each hold 960 stamps, which normally is sufficient for three to four weeks. The machines are examined daily to see that they are adequately stocked and in working order.
There were sufficient stamps in both machines on 17th and 18th August but the 1d. machine went out of order on Saturday, 17th August. It was put in order on Monday, the 19th August.
In the event of a machine failing to issue a stamp or to return the coins inserted, a refund of the amount inserted can be obtained at the counter.
