asked the Minister forPosts and Telegraphs if he will state the cause of the delay in proceeding with the provision of a new post office and telephone exchange at Naas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naas Postal and Telephone Facilities.
Extensive reconstruction and additional building work are involved in the provision of the proposed new post office and telephone exchange at Naas and it was found necessary to revise the plans on a number of occasions so that the best scheme for utilisation of the property would be achieved. This caused certain unavoidable delays but the scheme has been pressed forward as much as possible and I am assured that building work will commence in the coming year.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that the premises known locally as Doran's premises, which were acquired by the Post Office Department for the provision of a new post office are rapidly deteriorating and appears to have been abandoned by both the Post Office and the Board of Works? Would the Minister therefore cause further inquiries to be made into this matter with a view to having these works started as soon as possible? The present post office in Naas is a disgrace to the Post Office Department and a source of serious inconvenience to the community and the staff employed there.
I think the Deputy is aware that there have been difficulties in connection with this somewhat sad long story, for which I do not think any Department is primarily responsible but I think the difficulties are now ending and building work will commence in the coming year.
Will it be January or December?
I think in the early part of the coming year.
Could the Minister state what has happened to the intoxicating liquor licence attached to the premises?
That is a separate question.
It has been sold.