asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the capacity of the threepenny and one penny stamp-vending machines at Rathmines post office, Dublin; and the frequency at which they are filled and checked to ensure that they will not run out of stamps after office hours.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Stamp Vending Machines.
24.
Mr. Ryan
The capacity of the 3d and the 1d stamp-vending machines at Rathmines Post Office is 960 stamps each. The machines are checked daily. The machines are restocked as required, usually monthly for the 3d machine and fortnightly for the 1d machine.
Mr. Ryan
Would the Minister have them checked more frequently as it is not a rare experience by any means to find they have either run out of stock or are not operating?
The information I have is that the check is sufficient and the times for restocking are sufficient. I am informed there is no need to have checking done more frequently.
Would the Minister consider having a franking machine so that the customer could frank his own post?
That is a separate question.
I shall not consider it anyway.
25.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs why the one penny stamp-vending machine at Rathmines post office, Dublin was not functioning on the night of 8th November last; and whether persons who were obliged as a consequence to purchase two threepenny postage stamps to send letters in respect of which fourpence would have been the appropriate postage will receive any compensation.
I am not aware that the 1d. stamp-vending machine at Rathmines Post Office was out of order on the 8th November. The routine check on the morning of the 9th November did not disclose any defect. Stamps to the value of £1 1s. 3d. were in the machine at the time.
The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Minister accept from me that the stamp machine bore a notice that night the wording of which was, I think, "This machine is not in use"? Would the Minister explain why that notice was on the machine and why a customer could not get a penny stamp out of the machine, having inserted a penny, if the machine was functioning and had stamps in it?
I cannot answer that because I have not got the information here.
Mr. Ryan
Will the Minister accept that that was my personal experience and it was witnessed by another man?
The information I have here says that if any machine got blocked on 8th November, it had cleared itself before the inspection on 9th November.
Mr. Ryan
Is the Minister aware that there is a way of clearing these machines, to wit, giving the machine a good belt, but the Post Office has on occasion lost money because, as a result of the belt, stamps roll out of the machine?
26.
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is now in a position to state the decision taken on the proposal to purchase machines to vend books of stamps.
It is proposed to purchase some machines of the kind in question but a decision has not yet been taken on the particular machines to be purchased.