asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that as a result of new arrangements the postal delivery in Mountmellick, County Laois, is later and the departure of mail earlier than before; if he considers this a worsening of the service; and if he will arrange for later despatch of mail from the local post office so as to give people at least the same standard of service they enjoyed prior to the new arrangements.

The recent terminations, at the instance of the contractor, of a mails conveyance contract serving Mountmellick necessitated a revision of postal arrangements in the area. The most efficient and economic arrangement involved a slight disimprovement in standard of service. Since 1st November, 1972, postal delivery in Mountmellick commences at 8.10 a.m. and finishes at 10.10 a.m. and the evening despatch is made at 6.50 p.m. The delivery times are 25 minutes later than formerly and the despatch time is 30 minutes earlier. A revision to the former time of despatch under the new arrangements would have undesirable features from the staffing point of view and is not considered warranted. Depite the changes made, the services afforded at Mountmellick are still of high quality and compare very favourably with those provided in towns of comparable size throughout the country.

138.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason for the delay in delivering two letters to a person in County Meath (details supplied), one from the Voluntary Insurance Board posted in Dublin on 26th October, 1972, and received on 4th November, 1972, and one from the ESB posted in Dublin on 3rd November, 1972, and received on 9th November, 1972.

In order to enable inquiry to be made in this matter, it will be necessary to have the envelopes of the items stated to have been delayed. The person concerned is being contacted accordingly and I will communicate the result of the inquiry to the Deputy.