asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the deterioration in postal services between County Donegal and the rest of Ireland in recent times; and if he will take steps to restore the next-day delivery.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Postal Deliveries.
31.
Mails to and from County Donegal were routed via Portadown, Strabane and Lifford up to November, 1971. Because of difficulties caused by violence in that area they have since had to be routed via Sligo. This involves the conveyance of mails over a greater distance and the unavoidable results have been that morning deliveries in most of the county are somewhat later than formerly and posting times somewhat earlier, while second deliveries have had to be suspended in some places. Apart from these alterations, the standard of service has been maintained and the majority of items which would have secured next-day delivery under the pre-November, 1971, arrangements still do so. However, I will be glad to have any particular cases of delay investigated, if the Deputy cares to furnish details.
The Minister is aware that an inefficient postal service is a serious setback to the commercial and business life of any county, and particularly to the almost isolated county of Donegal. While I appreciate the change he made in rerouting the transport via Sligo in recent times, we have had a rather erratic delivery and despatch of mail. On some occasions the mail arrives on the second day but on other occasions it does not arrive for three or four days. This is hardly explainable by the fact that the mails have had to be routed via Sligo.
I cannot agree, and definitely do not agree, that postal services in Donegal are inefficient. Postal workers in Donegal will resent such a charge and rightly so.
I used the words "inefficient service", which the Minister bloody well knows I used.
I do not agree that the service is inefficient. The fact is that the provision of the service is being as efficiently conducted as is possible in the circumstances which have been caused by the peculiar political situation in the area as a result of violence. I should like to place on record a tribute to the postal workers concerned for what they are doing in difficult circumstances and I am sorry Deputy Brennan did not see fit to do so.
Is the Minister aware that 30 years ago a letter posted at the GPO before 6 pm was delivered even to remote parts of County Donegal before 9 am the following morning? Over a number of years there has been a deterioration in this service to such an extent that one is almost better off to do one's business by telephone.
This is a more widespread phenomenon. In many ways services 30 years ago, and even 60 years ago, were faster and cheaper but we also have to recall that in those days people were willing to work long hours for very little.
The service there is deplorable. It is supposed to serve the public, not fleece them.
Would the Minister have a look at the transport situation to see if it can be improved? Has the Minister gone thoroughly into the transport aspect of the rerouting?
I have examined the routing in question and I do not see any better way of doing it. It is possible that the Deputy has other ideas and if he communicates with me in regard to them I will have them considered.
Would the Minister not consider employing a helicopter to bring the mails from Dublin to Donegal?
The Minister, instead of introducing innuendos to my supplementary question——
The Deputy should not engage in arguments.
—— should have investigated the matter to see if it was possible to speed up the deliveries to Donegal. The run to Donegal only takes four hours in a car. The least we are entitled to is a next-day delivery. Is the Minister aware that contractors in that county have lost valuable contracts due to the fact that their tenders were late? Is he further aware that applicants for important positions have not been called for interview because their applications did not arrive on time? The service between Donegal and the rest of Ireland is inefficient and is having a serious affect on the county.
These contributions are rather rhetorical. If the Deputies opposite, in particular the Donegal Deputies, have serious suggestions to make in this area I will have them considered.
32.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of complaints of delays in postal deliveries to and from members of Na Fórsaí Cosanta at present serving in the Middle East with the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am not so aware. However, if the Deputy has details of specific cases of delay, I will be very glad to have them investigated.