asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will consider re-opening the Sub-Post Office at Greenans Cross, County Monaghan in view of the fact that, in addition to the normal services, there are 29 pensioners who now have to travel two or three miles for their pensions as a result of the closing of this office.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Sub-Post Office.
17.
I have considered the matter but there are no good grounds for reversing the decision already taken. It is not, of course, necessary for old age pensioners to call in person to a post office to collect their pensions. They may have them collected by an agent.
Is the Minister aware that in respect of the 29 people who have had to change their pension warrants, it is not always possible for them to get somebody to go on their behalf and in view of the fact that the sub-post office existed there for some time, the people of the district want it and the premises are available, what good reason is there for refusing to restore it?
I have looked into this matter very carefully and there is really no case at all for continuing or reopening the office. It was closed a few months ago but there are sub-offices all around it. One is as near as 2¾ miles, another 2¼ miles, another three miles, and another four miles. There is a bus service to Monaghan where there is a post office which transacts all post office business. The office in Greenans at no time had a postman. It did not sell money orders and at the time it was closed only 13 old age pensioners were going there. The number of purely post office transactions, excluding the sale of stamps and telephone calls, was only 17 per week. At present there is a shopkeeper licensed to sell stamps and arrangements are being made for a coin-box telephone service in a local shop. Taking all these matters into consideration, one could not possibly consider, on grounds of economy, re-opening the office.
What is the bus fare to the Post Office in Monaghan?
Is this a reasonable excuse for asking 29 pensioners——
There are only 13 old age pensioners.
——and widows and blind pensioners also, to go 2½ miles to get their pension? Perhaps the Minister has overlooked the fact that you cannot negotiate a pension warrant in a local shop. It must be presented at a post office.
According to my information many of the pensioners were not using that office at all and, as I said, there is a sub-post office 2¼ miles south and another to the north about 2½ miles. In fact there are sub-offices all around.
Five miles to travel for your pension.
I do not think it has really caused any hardship.
I assure the Minister it has and I should be glad if he would look into the matter further. What weekly saving is he making?
Keeping up a sub-post office for approximately 17 transactions per week and paying a subpostmaster approximately £200 per year is hardly an economic proposition. One must draw the line somewhere.
One must, but you kept it open up to very recently.