The matter that I asked to raise was the chaotic state of the postal services and the telecommunication system. In 1971 when we had a crisis in the country a then Fianna Fáil Minister raised the query: "What crisis?" Six months ago when we had a very severe petrol shortage the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, Deputy O'Malley, re-echoed that query when he said: "What crisis?" He said there was no problem whatsoever but that was not the case as we found out. In recent months the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has been giving us the same type of answer to questions asked about what is being done about the postal services and the telecommunication system. He would prefer not to know that there is a grave crisis and to dismiss the matter out of hand. It is only as a result of repeated complaints and an outcry from the public at large that we had a response from the Minister in recent weeks from spokesmen at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
There has been a serious deterioration in the postal services in the last seven or eight months. We had a strike which lasted 19 weeks. When that strike ended in June we expected a quick return to normality. Unfortunately that has not been the case. We are entitled to ask the Minister when are things going to return to normal and why it has taken so long. What has the Minister done in the interim to ensure that normal conditions and a normal service are obtained? We have been asking this for some months but have not got a definite reply. We got the impression that the Minister was hedging. We, the ordinary man on the street, the housewife, our business and industrial interest, would all like to know when matters will return to normal and when we can expect a dependable service. The service has been quite chaotic. Despite statements from spokesmen in the Minister's Department that things are improving evidence would suggest the contrary. Matters have not improved. Letters posted in Dublin are still taking up to two and three weeks to reach destinations in the country.
The kernel of the problem seems to be centred in Dublin. Letters to and from Dublin are extremely badly affected as are internal postal services in Dublin. The average length of delivery given by spokesmen from the Minister's Department, two days, is not taken seriously by people who are affected. Experience shows that delays are, on average, much greater. I am delighted and surprised when I get a letter from Dublin within two or three days. It is the exception rather than the rule. It is much more likely to be in the two-week category.
Industry and business concerns feel the brunt on occasions like this. We had complaints from industrialists around the country that they cannot meet orders and some have threatened to close down. To verify that fact I refer to a report in The Irish Times on 9 October 1979, where it was reported that a Swedish businessman in Macroom, County Cork, Mr. Lars Edman of Prince August Moulds said that letters from Dublin were taking between five and 21 days to reach him while those from abroad took at least ten days. The report states:
Mr. Edman said he had lost over £20,000 during the postal strike earlier this year, and had no intention of sitting back and letting the same thing happen again. He said he would relocate his factory outside Ireland if the service didn't soon improve.
That is a general sentiment shared by businessmen particularly those from abroad who have set up here. They are used to a comparatively efficient service. They were getting that up to recently. Now, however, things have deteriorated. Their business is affected and they are thinking of withdrawing.
Ours was one of the world's best postal services. Let us give credit where credit is due. It was excellent and it is a sad state of affairs that this deterioration has taken place. In an editorial in a national newspaper recently the question was raised: could the same thing happen here as happened in Britain after the catastrophic postal strike in 1971 where, as a result, things never really returned to normal in the British Post Office. The ideal of having a letter delivered the day after it is posted has virtually disappeared in Britain and delays of up to five days are commonplace. That position obtains in Ireland at present and even greater delays are being experienced. I hope we do not have the same experience as Britain where things never got back to normal. We hope the Minister will give us some direct answers because this is the first time we have had an opportunity of speaking to him in public and asking him to tell us what has happened and why these two services have virtually broken down.
I and other politicians can ride fairly well this kind of situation where letters arrive late. The people I feel sorry for, who have been coming to me in droves and whom I have not been able to help as well as I would wish, are those on disability benefit—insured workers who are out of employment through illness. Generally these are married men with young families. By the time their medical certificates reach the Department of Social Welfare, are dealt with by that Department and the cheque returned to the recipient, a month or six weeks can elapse causing great hardship to such people. They must go to the local relieving officer and virtually beg money to exist in the meantime. That person is severely hit. Retired civil servants, school teachers and others on pension depending on the post to receive their remittances have been hit as well. Most of these people are very proud and do not like running up bills or credit in shops. Some of them have had extreme difficulty.
In our opinion the Minister should have made an effort four months ago and not two weeks ago when criticism became severe. The day the postal strike ended he should have made an effort to see that matters returned to normal within a few days. That did not happen and people want to know the reason for the present situation and when matters will be rectified. There are some obvious reasons and one is shortage of staff. While we know that making up the shortfall of staff will cost money, the first obligation of the Government must be to see that the staff is up to the proper proportion. From reports in the papers this has not been the case.
It is only in recent weeks that the shortfall in staff is being rectified and that the Department are advertising for extra staff. The sorting offices in Dublin, particularly the one in Sheriff Street, seem to have been affected by a large drop in the number of sorters. Many workers who left during the postal strike did not return when it was over because they found better jobs. That is an indictment of the working conditions that existed before the strike. If hundreds of those people could find employment offering better pay and conditions it is an indication that there is something wrong in that Department. I should like to know what the Minister intends doing about making up the shortage of staff that exists.
In the course of their report the body which reviewed the postal services last May suggested that that service be separated from the Department and operated as a State-sponsored body. The review body also suggested that executives from the private sector should be recruited to introduce business acumen in the running of the service. As spokesman in this area for Fine Gael I publicly supported that view and the Government's commitment to implement it because in the long term the recommendation would prove an excellent solution to a problem that has bedevilled the postal and telecommunication service. I should like to point out to the Minister that things did not improve following the settlement of the engineers' dispute earlier this year. The Minister was remiss in this regard. He should make a statement outlining to the House why the situation has not improved. The telephone system got worse since the dispute and callers are experiencing more frequent breakdowns. The chances of one getting through, whether on a long distance or local call, are very remote.
A lot of things can happen to those fortunate enough to be in an area serviced by an automatic exchange. One may not get any sound having dialled a number or, having got through, one may be cut off after one minute's conversation. The latter is the subject of many complaints. Many other annoying things happen. For instance, in Dublin on local calls the noise over the telephones would shatter one's eardrum. Crossed lines are also a great nuisance. Technicians employed in the telecommunications sector have alleged that they cannot get the most basic pieces of equipment from the P & T stores. It appears that that allegation is correct. Technicians have told me that if they put in a requisition order for telephone instruments or other simple pieces of equipment it is likely they will be told that the equipment is not available. Obviously, the money is not being provided. The Minister owes the public an explanation with regard to this matter. There is a shortage of materials.
Another cause for concern is the shortage of staff. It is not possible, even with the best equipment, to give a proper service if there is a shortage of staff. I believe that a big number of telephonists left the service during the strike but the Department have not engaged in an intensive campaign to recruit new staff. We are all aware that the delay in getting through to exchanges is great and that one can be hanging on for up to 15 minutes without getting a reply. The obvious cause of that is lack of staff. People would be better off forgetting about the telegram service because frequently they are told that they will not be delivered until the following day and even for three days. That system is not functioning.
On the question of the installation of telephones I should like to state that when Dr. Conor Cruise O'Brien was Minister Fianna Fáil claimed that he was not doing his job in that Department because of his concern about Northern Ireland and foreign affairs. Dr. O'Brien was concerned about other matters because he has a social conscience but he had an excuse if things were not going properly in his Department. I should like to know if the Minister, or his Minister of State, have any excuse. Dr. O'Brien did good work in other fields as well as looking after his Department.
