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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1953

Vol. 139 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Channel Mail Service Costs.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the cost to his Department of the conveyance of mails to Britain for thepast year or a comparable period and how it would relate to a service by surface transport; and, further, the extra expense involved when, on occasions, air services are suspended and also if the extra cost of air services to cross-Channel devolves on the revenue derived from internal postage receipts.

The cost of the conveyance of letter mails to Britain in the year 1952 was £56,000 approximately. Had the mails been conveyed solely by surface transport the cost would have been lower but the service markedly inferior.

On occasions when the air service is suspended no extra expense is involved.

I do not understand the purport of the last sentence of the Deputy's question unless he implies that there should be a special airmail letter rate to Great Britain. The revenue likely to be received would not enable a lower internal postage rate to be charged.

Would the Minister state the amount of the difference between surface mail and airmail?

£36,000 lower.

Has the Minister any information there as to whether the times are different.

I fail to follow the Deputy. Airmail service is very much better from the standpoint of time because letters are received earlier in very many parts of Great Britain.

Is the Minister not aware that consequent on the introduction of the airmail service it is now necessary to post letters earlier in the evening in Dublin?

The balance of advantage is considered to be very much in favour of the airmail service.

But one has to post an hour earlier. Could the Minister not extend the time from 6 o'clock to 7 o'clock? That would make all the difference in the world.

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