asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will explain the system by which subpostmasters are appointed and, in particular, what qualifications are required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Appointment of Subpostmasters.
103.
A vacancy for subpostmaster is usually advertised at the office at which the vacancy exists and at neighbouring offices. Applicants are interviewed and the premises offered by them are inspected usually by the local head postmaster who furnishes a report to headquarters. The report and the applications are considered by a selection board consisting of senior officers of the Department. In each case the board recommends not more than three applicants as suitable for appointment and I appoint one of the recommended applicants. Some vacancies are filled by transferring the office to a close relative of the former subpostmaster provided that certain conditions are satisfied. These conditions are that the applicant is suitable, that the office has been in the family for several years, that it has been well conducted and that the Department is satisfied that no more suitable candidate is likely to be forthcoming if the vacancy were advertised.
The essential qualifications for appointment as a postmaster are that the person be 21 years of age or over, be of good health, character and financial standing, and be able to offer suitable premises for the office. These are minimum requirements and other factors which are taken into account depending on the size and importance of the sub-office business are the person's standard of education, his ability to provide any assistance necessary for conducting the business of the office and his likely aptitude for the work. A good knowledge of Irish is required for sub-offices in the Gaeltacht.
Persons in certain occupations are not normally eligible for appointment as subpostmaster. These include rate collectors, home assistance officers, court officers, Gardaí Síochána, publicans and several others.
Will the Minister state if an essential requirement is that the applicant should be a member of the local Fianna Fáil cumann?
The Deputy ought not to be so flippant about a serious matter of that nature. I have told the Deputy the rules and regulations under which I make an appointment. These rules and regulations and decisions were taken in 1951, by a member of the Deputy's Party, when he was Minister for Posts and Telegraphs here. These rules and regulations are still in existence and these appointments are made according to those rules and regulations and according to the delegated power the selection board got from the Minister. I am bound by those rules and regulations and according to them, I make every appointment and have made every appointment since I became Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.
Will the Minister name one subpostmaster appointed in County Meath in the past 12 months who is not an active member of Fianna Fáil?
That is not relevant.
That is not a fair supplementary question. It is not worthy of the Deputy.
It is the truth.
It is not worthy of the Deputy.
Question No. 104.
Does the siting of the post office not have a bearing?
That question is decided by the board, not by me. The board must be satisfied that the premises are suitable and suitably situated. The board makes a report on that—I do not—and I do not make the decision on it.
Is the Minister satisfied that the public are facilitated by recent appointments?
I am satisfied the board is carrying out its work according to its delegated authority.