asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that many residents in the town of Swinford, County Mayo are being denied the facility of twice-daily postal delivery; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Swinford (Mayo) Postal Delivery.
79.
The second daily postal delivery at Swinford is limited to the town area proper. An extension of the delivery area would not be warranted having regard to the small amount of correspondence involved.
Does the Minister not appreciate that Swinford is a divided town so far as postal deliveries are concerned? In the area to which I refer along the Dublin Road, there are two hospitals and from 100 to 150 people living there. Are they not as much entitled to a second delivery of post as the people resident in the remaining part of the town? Where is the Minister getting his information?
The information I have is factual. Unfortunately, the Deputy is talking from what he thinks.
I live there.
We are aware of what the actual delivery of letters would be. On the statistics available to us, we cannot prove there would be more than two or three letters delivered to any of the hospitals in a second delivery. Because of the means by which the mail is carried, the main portion of the mail, if not the entire mail, is delivered in the morning delivery. One must draw the line somewhere. The second delivery in all towns has to be confined to certain limits. No matter where the line is drawn, there are always representations to have it extended.
Is the Minister serious when he suggests I know nothing about the situation? Does he not know I live within a few miles of the town and know every individual in it?
I did not say any such thing.
In one house the post is delivered twice while there is only one delivery for the house beside it. The two hospitals are situated there. Does the Minister suggest that the people in that part of the town are not as much entitled to a second delivery as the people in the other part?
I said the volume of mail in this case would not warrant an extension of the delivery. I did not say the Deputy does not know anything about the town. I said he would not be in a position to know the likely volume of mail in a second delivery in this case.
Will the Minister give an undertaking that, with the falling population in the west of Ireland, if mail becomes less, there will be deliveries on alternate days only?
Question No. 80.
Am I not entitled to ask a further supplementary, Sir?
The Deputy has asked three supplementaries already. Question No. 80.