asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs ifhe will state for how long the post office at Fethard-on-Sea was situated in the house of the former postmistress; and, further, if he will state whether or not the premises were regarded by him as satisfactory.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fethard-on-Sea Post Office.
The former sub-postmistress held the appointment for 62 years and the office accommodation provided was satisfactory.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state whether or not the premises in which it is proposed to establish the post office at Fethard-on-Sea is or ever has been a licensed premises.
The proposed new post office at Fethard-on-Sea will be housed in a building in another part of which a licensed business is carried on. The post office portion will be completely cut off from the rest of the premises. It is intended to have the post office portion excluded from the scope of the licence before the new office is opened.
Would the Minister state why the post office is being moved into part of a licensed premises. Surely there is a rule against that.
The action taken is not contrary to any regulation in the post office. I appointed the person I considered the most satisfactory in all the circumstances.
Did the Minister say whether or not the premises had been a licensed premises?
The post office is in part of a licensed premises, in the extreme corner wing at a great distance away from the portion used as a licensed premises but in order to conform with the strict letter of the law that portion is being surrendered.
Why are you doing it?
Could the Minister indicate if, from the estimates submitted to his office for the transferof the telephone from where it is now into these new premises, the estimate accepted was the least costly?
That is a separate question. The question of the cost of transferring the telephone is only one of the many factors that go into the choice of a person for sub-postmaster or sub-postmistress.
Is there not a rule that post offices must not be allowed on licensed premises?
It would take too long to give the exact ruling. It is more complicated than that. It does not include any regulation whereby a post office may not be in a licensed premises but in this case the licence does not cover the post office building, which goes further in fact than the actual regulation.
Ministers may now be directors, post offices may now be in pubs. We live in a new era.