asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware of the dissatisfaction felt by the residents of Roselawn estate, Blanchardstown, County Dublin, about the late postal delivery in the area; and the steps he proposes to take to improve the service.

(Dublin South-Central): Deliveries in the Roselawn estate area are now scheduled for about one hour later than formerly following a reorganisation of deliveries intended to cater for new building development in the general area and to give postmen a five-day, Monday to Friday, week. Some complaints have been received but it would not be possible without disproportionate expenditure to restore or improve former delivery times.

Is the Minister aware that the residents' association have written to me as one of the public representatives in the area stating that deliveries do not start in the Roselawn Estate until after 10 a.m. and some days as late as 11.30 a.m.? In view of the fact that in other areas postal deliveries start at 8 a.m., does the Minister consider this is a fair service for the people in Roselawn?

(Dublin South-Central): Many of these problems have arisen because of the five-day week. As there are no deliveries on a Saturday, there may be extra deliveries on a Monday and there may be some delay.

If the Minister had to allow a five-day week, surely he should have made the necessary arrangements to have a postal service on five days at least as good as previously?

(Dublin South-Central): That will be the case when full reorganisation of the new areas is completed. At the moment unless an additional postman is employed for one hour a day, there is no way I can see that that can be organised.

Will the Minister state how long it will take to improve the service or to give the residents the same service as that given to others in adjoining estates?

The Minister has no plans for that.

(Dublin South-Central): When the development of the area is completed that will be done.

The development of Roselawn has been completed.

(Dublin South-Central): There are other parts remaining to be done.

Will the Minister give the House some information regarding the timetable for this reorganisation? Dublin Corporation are operating on a 20-year development programme for the county area. Do I understand that we will have to wait 20 years for the development in this case to be complete? Will it be for such a long period, for five years or for one year?

(Dublin South-Central): It is an ongoing situation.

The question relates specifically to one area.

I am trying to extract from the Minister information regarding when this reorganisation will take place and when the residents of the area may expect a service comparable to other adjoining estates.

(Dublin South-Central): I have told the Deputy that this is an ongoing situation.

That phrase used to belong to another Minister. With due respect, is the Minister saying he has no answer to my question?

(Dublin South-Central): I have said it is an ongoing situation.

What does that mean?

(Dublin South-Central): The area is developing and expanding and we will have to look at it from time to time.

Will the Minister define for me in the context of the people in Roselawn estate what "an ongoing situation" actually means?

(Dublin South-Central): We will have to take into consideration the whole district.

Will it be one year, five years or 20 years before they get a regular postal service?

(Dublin South-Central): I cannot give the Deputy that information.

In other words, the Minister does not know. He is the Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs? I just wanted to check.

(Dublin South-Central): I am keeping the matter under continuous review.

We have started the habit of getting a local question changed into a general debate.

With all due respect, I was speaking specifically about Rose-lawn Estate. It was not a general debate.

13.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will make arrangements to have a letterbox provided at the shopping centre in Roselawn Estate, Blanchardstown, County Dublin, as the nearest letterbox is more than a half mile away from more than 2,000 houses in this new estate.

(Dublin South-Central): Yes, arrangements are being made to provide a letterbox in Rose-lawn Estate subject to planning permission requirements.