asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is now in a position to grant a five-day week to postmen in the Naas area of County Kildare.

A staff claim for a Monday to Friday five-day week for all postman staff on mail delivery and collection services is being pursued under the scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the civil service. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this stage except to say that the question of giving a five-day week to postmen in the Naas area, as in others, will be examined in the light of the outcome of that claim.