asked the Minister for Finance what progress has been made in the Office of Public Works with regard to the proposal to erect a new Post Office at Ballinasloe, County Galway; and when tenders for the work will be invited.

Contract drawings for the building in question are in course of preparation but at this stage it is not possible to say how soon tenders for the work will be invited.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether this is the post office that was to be erected immediately after the South Galway by-election? I understand that an assurance was given at that time that immediately the by-election was over, the post office would be erected.

Why not before it?

Questions were answered in the House previously about this post office. The answer is in accordance with the answer given on that occasion.

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the Minister for Transport and Power made a speech in Ballinasloe, during the South Galway by-election, at which he said that the post office was to be commenced immediately in Ballinasloe? That is not in accordance with the facts.

It was as bad as the four bacon factories in Leitrim.

You should have started before the election.

A grant was made available for the job and the work would really be in hands now, were it not for the fact that the same engineer was engaged at Dame Court. As soon as the Dame Court office is completed, the engineer will go down.

A statement will be made immediately before the general election.

It will refer to Baltinglass as well.