asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he will state why Mr. Dan Donovan, Lackenduff, Clonakilty, a postman of thirty years' service, who is married and has a family of five children, has had his route changed and his pay reduced to 9s. 4d. per week since 1924, whilst a naval pensioner has taken over the duties previously assigned to Mr. Donovan, in addition to his own; whether he is aware that Mr. Donovan has now to walk three miles to Clonakilty to get the letters for delivery, whilst previously he obtained them at the local sub-post office; and whether there is any reason why he could not be given back his former route and rate of pay.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - POSTMAN'S ROUTE.
Mr. Dan Donovan was employed as an allowance deliverer at Lackenduff, Clonakilty, from 1903 to July, 1924, when, following a general revision of the postal services in that area, his services had to be dispensed with. He has since been given three offers of employment on other posts, each of which was considered suitable to him and carried higher wages than his former post, but he refused to accept any of them. The auxiliary postman referred to in the question was senior to Mr. Donovan. There is, unfortunately, no suitable vacancy at present in Clonakilty which could be offered to Mr. Donovan.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary inform me of the three suitable offers which were made to Mr. Donovan as an alternative to his previous employment, and at what rates of pay were these three offers made?
The Deputy will understand that I am not in a position to give every detail in connection with this case. The answer states that three offers of employment were made and they were better than the post he previously held. The officer in question refused to take any of the offers.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary furnish me with the rates of pay which he says were an increase on the previous rates given to this man?
In view of the answer, which states, "Each of which was considered suitable to him and carried higher wages than his former post," it is hardly necessary to supply the information. If the Deputy wishes to get the exact information I will provide it. But it is so that the wages were higher.