asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state (1) how many applications there were for the vacant post office at Fethard on Sea, County Wexford, and (2) how many of these applicants resided in the village.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Wexford Post Office
Eight applications were received for the vacant sub-post office position at Fethard on Sea, County Wexford. Five of the applicants resided in the village and the remaining three offered to provide accommodation in the village.
Is it not a fact that the successful applicant in this case has no residence in the village and that in order to provide accommodation for the post office has had to hire a room in licensed premises in order to carry on business?
The person whoreceived the appointment has provided proper premises. They are not connected with licensed premises, and this person is about to reside there.
Is it not a fact that the successful candidate has no residence whatsoever in the village and has had to hire premises to establish the post office there?
I have given the Deputy all the information. I have said that some of the applicants resided in the village and some did not but I have also told him that this person has taken a place in which to carry out the post office activities and is intending to reside in the village.
Surely when these applications are made the applicants give the fullest details with regard to the premises in which they propose to conduct the business if appointed and surely it is not unreasonable, therefore, to ask the Minister to give the House some idea as to the premises that the successful applicant has in which to carry out the business of the post office.
It is not usual—it has not been for as long as I can remember —for the Minister to give details in regard to the qualifications of persons. I have chosen the person who has now been selected for the post office and I consider the person to be a proper person to have the post office.
Would the Minister say whether or not the business of the post office will be conducted in a building which also is a licensed premises?
The business of the post office will not be conducted in a building which is in the ownership of a person who is going to conduct the post office. It will be of a suitable character and up to the standard of anything to be found in County Wexford.
Will the Minister say whether or not the post office and a licensed premises are under the one roof?
I am not able to answer that question.
Is the Minister able to state categorically one way or the other: is the post office on premises that are licensed or is it not?
The premises of a post office are frequently on annexes to licensed premises in a street of houses. What I have said was that the rule of the Department whereby persons owning licensed premises are not in the ordinary way selected as sub-postmasters has been upheld in this case, and that is all the Deputy needs to know about it.
I am asking the Minister a specific, categorical question. Is the post office on premises that are licensed or is it not?
The premises are not part of a licensed premises.
If the Minister had answered that in the beginning it would have saved a lot of trouble.
He said that before.
No, he did not.
You are very ratty over there. You feel a bit rattled.
They feel a bit rattled.
Of course the Minister for External Affairs generally shows it.
Is the Minister aware that the girl who is carrying on the post office now is satisfactory? The post office has been there for 18 years. Her predecessor died and this girl was satisfactory.
We are aware of all the circumstances.
Now you are taking the post office outside. If you want another Ballinalee in Wexford you will get it.
Are people who have no residence of their own considered for the position of sub-post-master? It appears that this applicant has no residence whatever.
Applications of all kinds are considered.