(Dublin Central): We have all some associations with the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, whether in connection with telephones, postal services, television or other aspects of the Department. We all appreciate that this Department has a very large number of employees. For that reason alone it is a very important Department. I believe there are between 20,000 and 23,000 employees in the Department.
Committee on Finance. - Vote 42 : Posts and Telegraphs (Resumed).
Debate resumed on the following motion :
That the Estimate be referred back for re-consideration.
—(Deputy G. Collins).
23,000.
(Dublin Central): We must treat this Department with respect and with consideration for the living of this number of people. The Minister must be concerned about the employees. It is important that the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs should have a good relationship with all his staff. I believe that this has existed over many years. I have no doubt that harmony and goodwill exisi within the Department. There must be goodwill in any organisation if there is to be full productivity in it. The contribution which the employees of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs have made to the State has been beneficial and helpful.
I will deal now with the postal services. In this city they are excellent. I must congratulate the postal section for the delivery of letters. At times the postmen must find it difficult in newlybuilt-up areas to find the proper addresses in new roads of unusual names. It is a mystery to me how they become accustomed to delivering letters in such areas in so short a time. There are a considerable number of post offices in this country. There are also a large number of sub-post offices. The services which the post offices and sub-post offices give in relation to postal work and savings banks have been excellent. They have contributed, in no small measure, to the Exchequer but the conditions under which they work are far from favourable. There are housing schemes in this city where large numbers of people are living without a sufficient number of sub-post offices. One sub-post office in a built-up area is not sufficient. Quite often these premises are very small and inadequate to cope with the services carried on by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
Sub-postmistresses, sub-postmasters, and their assistants, play a very important part in the life of this country and, consequently, it is important that the conditions under which they work are improved. Apparently, it is the Government's decision to channel further funds into the Post Office. As a result of the statement in the budget to the effect that the Government was removing the £70 from the domestic banks the inflow of capital into the Post Office savings will be considerable. I doubt if there are sufficient personnel employed in the sub-post offices, and I am not casting any aspersions on the existing staff, to expand the Post Office Savings programme.
I do not think the post offices throughout the country are sufficiently equipped to cope with an increased demand on Post Office Savings. There is not sufficient personnel, and the post offices are not properly equipped to cater for the people who wish to use them from day to day. The people in these post offices are overworked, and must remain on duty for long hours daily. The Post Office service is expanding, and for this reason I should like the Minister to see if the sub-post offices are sufficiently staffed, how they can be improved and to implement any changes necessary as speedily as possible. Because it is envisaged that post offices will act as a banking agent for the State—something I think is desirable if funds are to be channelled into the Exchequer—it is desirable that these improvements be carried out.
The need for a change in the regulation which prohibits members of the Post Office staff from having affiliations to political parties has been brought to my notice on many occasions. This regulation is wrong. I feel that Post Office employees should be entitled to affiliate to the political party of their conviction. This should obtain up to a certain level in the Post Office. I am not advocating that the higher officials in the Post Office should be exempt from this regulation. The average postman or Post Office employee should not be impeded or prohibited from partaking in the political life of the nation. We should encourage people to take an interest in the political aspects of the nation irrespective of which parly they are attached to.
We have seen too many people in this country operating outside the political spectrum and we should not discourage our own employees from speaking out on how they feel the political institutions of this country should operate. I have raised this matter on a number of occasions when my party was in Government. Many people in my constituency have expressed the view to me that they consider this an undue restriction. These people are entitled to this freedom.
The telephone service is something that leaves a lot to be desired. Those of us who use the telephone can understand the frustration that is being experienced by the people in the country in relation to this service. The service is completely inadequate. Members know how frustrating it is when the telephones in this House are busy, and how difficult it is to make a call to any part of the country. This also applies to business firms and private individuals.
I am aware that there has been a substantial increase for telephones in the capital budget but I wonder is this sufficient, particularly when one considers that there is a backlog of 30,000 applicants for telephones. Even with the additional allocation I do not think it will be possible to meet the requirements in this regard. This is one area which can give a return on capital. It has always given a return of 8 to 8 1/2 per cent on investments.
This is a Department to which more money could be allocated in the capital budget. At one time I felt that if the telephone section was separated from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and was allowed to float a loan for the improvement of the service it would prove more beneficial to the country. With this backlog of 30,000 applications it is obvious that there is no hope of improving the situation because the amount allocated in the capital budget is not sufficient. This problem will remain with us for a considerable time.
With this country gearing itself for the Common Market and with industrialists considering the establishment of factories it is important that we should have an efficient telephone service. There should not be a delay when an application is made by an industrialist for the installation of a telephone. This delay has discouraged a number of industrialists in the past. This country must reach the same standard of efficiency in this regard as that existing in Common Market countries. The Minister should do everything possible to expedite the installation of telephones, particularly for business people.
Progress reported: Committee to sit again.