asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that grave concern exists among the Irish troops in Cyprus due to the fact that long delays have occurred in the forwarding to them of letters from their homes; and that many complaints have been made by the members of the Defence Forces serving in Cyprus on this account; whether he has himself received any complaints on this matter; and if he will carry out an immediate investigation of these delays and ensure that in future no such delays will occur.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Letters to Irish Troops in Cyprus.
58.
I am not so aware. These mails are sent by air from Dublin each day from Tuesday to Saturday inclusive. There has been no delay in despatch from this country apart from one occasion last month when a hold-up of one day occurred because of flight cancellations.
Would the Minister state whether there could be any delay in Cyprus that could be attributable to the forces?
Not attributable to the forces. The mails are sent in closed despatch by Aerlinte to London and transhipped to BEA there. They reach Cyprus the same day. It is the people in Cyprus who are responsible for distribution. This is something on which we keep in the closest possible contact with the Department of Defence.
Is the Minister not aware that the last delivery was on 12th November and that up to 18th November, there was no further delivery in Cyprus during a period of six days? Is he not further aware that sometimes it is ten days?
This does not at all conform with my information. This mail is despatched from Dublin every week-day except Monday and that is because there is no BEA connection on Mondays. It is a one day service. There is certainly no delay at this end and we have had no complaints.
Do I take it that a letter posted to a soldier in Cyprus actually arrives in Cyprus within 24 hours?
Yes.
How then can the Minister explain that a letter posted in Dublin to me in Donegal took three days to reach Donegal?
(Interruptions.)
I submit that the evidence contained in the question is correct and that there is grave concern about the delay in the delivery of letters. If the Minister pursues the allegation, he will find it is well founded.
I do not dispute what the Deputy is saying but I would expect that if there were some complaints about deliveries, we are the people who should get them rather than a Deputy from Tipperary as we are the people likely to be able to do something about it.
(Interruptions.)
We go to great extremes to ensure that there will be no delay in delivery.
I am calling Question No. 59.
Would the Minister inquire from the troops in Cyprus?
We are in touch with the Department of Defence about this.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 59.