asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the considerable resentment in the Tulsk area, County Roscommon, at the break in the long-established practice of having a local man serving as postman; and that the new arrangement of bringing in an established official from 15 miles away is a very serious matter in an area of little employment; and if he will revert to the old system which accords with the needs and wishes of the people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Roscommon Postman.
8.
The recent appointment of an established postman from the nearby head office at Castlerea was in accordance with the long-standing policy of filling full-time posts by officers appointed by Civil Service Commission competition. It is the case that the former occupant was a local man, but that arose from his employment on the full-time post—as an alternative to terminating his services —when it was upgraded in 1955 from part-time status. The circumstances now are quite different as the part-time post remains available for the part-time postman who temporarily performed the full-time job.
Will the Minister tell me why 15 men were interviewed and why a small farmer, the father of four children was appointed, and then when it was found out that he was not the proper political colour, a single man of 19 years of age was brought from 15 miles away to fill the position?
The Deputy does not seem to have been listening.
I was listening.
There was a temporary vacancy arising from the regretted death through an accident of the full-time postman in that area. In the normal run of things, when something like that happens, the Post Office approaches the employment exchange for a list of men and appoints somebody in a temporary capacity. The Post Office are usually not ready to put in a full-time man the minute an unexpected vacancy like that arises. It is not right, but it is typical of the Deputy, to suggest that there was any political interference in this case. The man appointed is a full-time postman appointed by the Civil Service Commission and this is the type of appointment that is desirable in order to be able to provide full-time established employment. The postman did the test and went through the necessary training. There is no question of the man in question being replaced. That man was informed when he was taking on the job that it was only a temporary position.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, when the position became vacant, a man was appointed temporarily for a short time, and could he tell me what happened to that man? Could he also say why 15 people were interviewed for this position? This man I spoke of was appointed all right, but when they found out he was not the right political colour, they brought another man 15 miles to take his position. Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell me what happened to the first temporary appointment?
I should like to inform the Deputy that there were actually two men previous to the man he is speaking about and both of them gave up the position and we had to take on somebody else.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary sure one of them gave up the position?
Yes.