asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the unsatisfactory postal delivery services in Goresbridge and Graiguenamanagh districts, County Kilkenny; and if he will take steps to arrange earlier deliveries of the morning post, so that business people may have an opportunity to reply to letters on the date of receipt.

The mails reach Goresbridge and Graiguenamanagh at 9.10 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively, and delivery begins 20 minutes later at each place.

The village delivery is completed at 10 a.m. at Goresbridge and 1.5 p.m. at Graiguenamanagh. The outgoing mails are not despatched until 4.5 p.m., and 3.20 p.m., respectively, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. On Wednesdays and Fridays, as no rail services are available, despatches must be made at 2.50 p.m. and 2.5 p.m. respectively, in order to connect with buses from Kilkenny. With existing limited rail transport, improved postal facilities are not, I regret, practicable.