asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the increased population in the Greenhills area, Walkinstown, County Dublin, he will now consider providing a new sub-post office for the area.

The stage has not yet been reached when provision of a sub-post office for the general area would be warranted. The question of providing an office will continue to be kept under review according as housing and other development progresses. Walkinstown and Perrystown sub-post offices are considered to cater adequately for the needs of the area at present.

Arising from the Minister's reply, is the Minister in a position to indicate when a new sub-post office might be provided in view of the increased population? He has mentioned that it would be kept under review.

The provision of additional post office facilities in the area will have to await housing development and the building of shops in central locations to the west of the present estates. The fairly extensive scale of development projected for this area combined with developments in the area in general would be likely to justify the establishment of a post office eventually. The position will be kept under continuing review, but pending the developments I have referred to I am not in a position to set a precise date.

6.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the many problems which exist in the post office in Tallaght, County Dublin, at present due to the location and unsuitability of the premises; and the steps he intends to take to improve the situation.

If the Deputy could advise of the particular problems which he has in mind, they will be considered. So far as I am aware the premises are central and suitably located and the accommodation and facilities are satisfactory.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, the Minister did ask whether the Deputy was in a position to give some information. I have brought this matter to the Minister's notice on a number of occasions by way of question, so any further information required I will be in a position to submit.

I am aware of the Deputy's questions and of my own answers to them in which I gave him the information he sought. My answer to his question was couched in the form in which it was because I thought it possible the Deputy might have further data which I might consider.

7.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if, in view of the increased population in the Springfield area of Tallaght, County Dublin, he will consider providing a new sub-post office for the area.

The stage has not yet been reached when provision of a sub-post office for the area would be warranted. The question of providing an office will continue to be kept under review according as housing and other development progresses. Tallaght post office is considered to cater adequately for the needs of the area at present.

Arising from the Minister's reply, he did say in answer to my question regarding Walkinstown that the matter would be kept under review pending further development. Surely the Minister is aware that there is no area more developed than the Tallaght area. Regarding my question about a sub-post office in Tallaght, the post office is not adequate to meet the needs of the people there. I consider that there is sufficient development in the Springfield and Tallaght area to warrant the setting up of a new sub-post office and I am asking the Minister to reconsider that.

I agree with the Deputy that further development in the Tallaght area, including Springfield, will require the expansion of post office facilities, but of course the claims of some other estates in the area to a post office may be as strong as Springfield's, and Springfield cannot be considered in isolation. As I indicated, I am keeping the matter under review as the area develops.

Will the Minister agree that the setting of a new post office will eliminate many of the problems which exist in the Tallaght post office at the moment? The main reasons there are so many problems there are overcrowding and lack of accommodation.

I do not accept that the existing post office is inadequate at the present stage, but as the area develops there will be need for a further post office.