asked the Postmaster-General if he will state what are the outlets of promotion available to Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists, and what has been done by his Department to relieve the stagnation of promotion that has been such a cause of discontent in the Postal and Telegraph Service.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PROMOTION OF SORTING CLERKS AND TELEGRAPHISTS.
Under the previous Administration the main avenue of promotion available to the Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist Grade was to the Overseer grade, and thence to the Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, and Postmaster grades. This avenue is still maintained, and while the average number of promotions, by means of it, was 22 per annum, it has averaged 34 per annum since the advent of the Irish Administration.
In addition to this, however, we have recruited the Headquarters Clerical Grades wholly from the Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist Grade, and have filled from the Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist Grade every vacancy on the Clerical Grade which has occurred since the change of Government. The total number of Clerical Officers on the Headquarters Clerical Establishment is 259, and of this number 120 are officers whom we have promoted from the Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist Grade, of whom 67 have been definitely appointed as Clericals, and 53 will be appointed as soon as their probationary period expires.
We have also been instrumental in the promotion of Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists to clerical vacancies in other Government Departments, and 38 have been so promoted.
That is to say, the present Administration has opened up an avenue of promotion for this class and in less than two years has provided for 158 officers an outlet which had been previously altogether beyond their reach.
I may add that under the reorganisation scheme there will be a certain number of redundant Post Office Assistants, and that I propose, subject to the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance, to fill all future vacancies on the Headquarters Clerical Establishments from the Post Office Assistants Grade, until such time as the redundant officers have been absorbed, subject, of course, to a supply of suitable officers being available from that grade.
I assure the Deputy that I am wholly in favour of improving the outlets for the Post Office main grades. The fact that in less than two years we have promoted to the Clerical Grade more Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists than the British Administration did in its whole existence here, speaks for itself.