asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the reason there is frequently a delay of over a fortnight in the delivery of parcel post within Dublin; and if he is aware that, because of the delays in the parcel post service, many firms are abandoning the postal service.

Regular monitoring of the parcel service indicates that currently approximately 87 per cent of parcels in Dublin are delivered within two days of posting. There is no reason for a delay of the order mentioned by the Deputy, but if he lets me have particulars of any cases he may have in mind I shall, of course, be glad to have them investigated. Having regard to the standard of the service, it would be surprising if firms are abandoning it, and I have no evidence that this is happening on any significant scale.