asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will give special consideration to the appointment of extra postmen in the Tuam area of County Galway, where great delays are being experienced in the delivery of post, both in the town of Tuam and in the rural areas surrounding, taking into account that Tuam is a big growth area and that no extra postmen have been appointed in the last number of years.

(Dublin South-Central): Delivery arrangements in Tuam and the surrounding area were reorganised as from 3 April 1978 to give a five-day, Monday to Friday, working week to postmen. The former standard of delivery has been maintained over most of the town, especially the business sector, and the surrounding rural area. However, as postmen are working a longer day under five-day conditions later delivery in some areas is inevitable. It is not considered that any extra postmen are warranted, but as the revised arrangements have been in force for a reasonable period they are now being reviewed to see if any improvements are possible without undue expense in the areas most affected.

: Is the Minister aware that in the past four years replacements were not granted in the case of one postman who died and another who retired? The area has been left short of two postmen. Now that we have a five-day week most businesses do not get their post until 11 a.m. or 12 noon. I would ask the Minister to review the matter.

(Dublin South-Central): I have no information that the area is short of two postmen.

: Three years ago I wrote to the then Minister regarding replacements but he refused. On the retirement of another postman two years ago I wrote again but the answer was still "No". I am now asking the Minister to reconsider the matter.

: Order, please.