asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give special consideration to the allocation of extra staff to Tuam Post Office, County Galway, to avoid the unnecessary delays now being experienced there, taking into account the growing population in the Tuam area and the surrounding villages.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Tuam Post Office Staff .
18.
(Dublin South-Central): The staffing at Tuam post office is regarded as fully adequate for the normal run of business offering. Although counter staffing is specially strengthened on Fridays and the first Tuesday of each month, there is some queuing on those days. Queuing unavoidably occurs on these days at most busy offices, and to provide staff on a basis which would eliminate it would be disproportionately costly.
: I would ask the Minister to review the matter because on most days there are queues at the counter waiting to be served. I would be grateful if the Minister could do anything to alleviate the problem. It is not very pleasant for old people to have to stand in a queue for 45 minutes before they are served.
(Cavan-Monaghan): That is a poor show after three seats.
(Dublin South-Central): I shall have a look at the suggestion made by the Deputy.
19.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give special consideration to the appointment of extra postmen in the Tuam area of County Galway, where great delays are being experienced in the delivery of post, both in the town of Tuam and in the rural areas surrounding, taking into account that Tuam is a big growth area and that no extra postmen have been appointed in the last number of years.
(Dublin South-Central): Delivery arrangements in Tuam and the surrounding area were reorganised as from 3 April 1978 to give a five-day, Monday to Friday, working week to postmen. The former standard of delivery has been maintained over most of the town, especially the business sector, and the surrounding rural area. However, as postmen are working a longer day under five-day conditions later delivery in some areas is inevitable. It is not considered that any extra postmen are warranted, but as the revised arrangements have been in force for a reasonable period they are now being reviewed to see if any improvements are possible without undue expense in the areas most affected.
: Is the Minister aware that in the past four years replacements were not granted in the case of one postman who died and another who retired? The area has been left short of two postmen. Now that we have a five-day week most businesses do not get their post until 11 a.m. or 12 noon. I would ask the Minister to review the matter.
(Dublin South-Central): I have no information that the area is short of two postmen.
: Three years ago I wrote to the then Minister regarding replacements but he refused. On the retirement of another postman two years ago I wrote again but the answer was still "No". I am now asking the Minister to reconsider the matter.
(Interruptions.)
: Order, please.