asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state having regard to the considerable difficulties caused to the staff in the Central Sorting Office in Sheriff Street, Dublin, by reason of the quantity of dust there, how soon steps will be taken to instal an extractor fan or to provide other remedial measures to improve working conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Central Sorting Office.
122.
Remedial action to reduce the dust level and to improve working conditions has been taken and measures aimed at further improvement are under examination.
Would the Minister be good enough to say when the measures were taken because, last week, when this question was tabled by me, working conditions were intolerable? It would appear that situation arose because of the stupid decision to delete from the original specifications the extractor fan. Would the Minister be good enough now to say that the original proposal will be reverted to and the extractor fan installed?
This matter was raised initially by Deputy Tully and I did then have a pretty thorough investigation made. Tests were made by the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards and that body reported that the amount of dust was well within the limits normally accepted. They did not consider the dust a serious problem from the point of view of health and comfort. Nonetheless, I am aware that it is a problem. Certain remedial action has been taken and measures aimed at further improving the position are under consideration with a view to the further extraction of dust as far as possible.
123.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the oppressive working conditions, particularly on sunny days, in Sheriff Street sorting office, Dublin, caused by the excessive amount of glass in the building; and if steps will be taken to improve matters.
I understand that the measures taken to prevent excessive heat have achieved good results in improving working conditions. The position will be kept under review.
Could the Minister indicate when these measures were taken because when the question was tabled last week working conditions were insufferable: the heat level was far too high and as a result output was suffering and the general well being of the workers in the sorting office was seriously diminished?
It might be no harm to give some details in connection with this. Arising from the discussions on this matter previously, a meeting was held between post office workers and representatives of my Department last April. At that time over 50 ventilator fans had been fitted in the building. It was pointed out to the union that there was little more that could be done and that part of the difficulty was caused by the unauthorised switching off of the fans by the staff. A full check was carried out and now the fans are kept on permanently with a resultant improvement in the ventilation. Four large propellor-type fans, suspended from the ceiling, have been installed in the letter office section. This is with a view to a further improvement and to try to counteract this excessive heat that does arise from the large expanse of glass in the building.
It must have been a very badly designed building.
Can the Minister say if part of this is caused by the fact that the windows cannot be opened because of the coal dust? Can anything be done to try to remove that problem?
The only really positive way we could solve that problem is by getting rid of the coal. Reports which came before me as Parliamentary Secretary about two years ago did give the impression that alternative arrangements were being made for removing the coalyard. At that time I expected that this would occur in 1970 but, unfortunately, the picture now seems to indicate that it will be another two years before the yard can be removed to Ringsend. There is a combination of circumstances which seems to be working against me and the workers in this regard.
Would the Minister say, as he admits that there is no prospect of solving the problem of the coal dust by having the yard removed, that he will try to do something substantial to alleviate the heat? If the windows could be opened at the back a lot of this could be resolved, but because they cannot surely something substantial should be done and not just the installation of a number of small fans?
I have a peculiar feeling that when we do get the coal shifted that will not be the end of the problem and that probably we will be hearing more about it.
(Interruptions.)
Every effort is being made in view of the fact that those windows, for the time being, have to be kept closed. We have had these additional fans installed and additional improvement has been made. I have not been there in the last fortnight but the reports coming to me and my Department indicate that things have cooled off a lot.