(Clare) asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs when work will commence on the new area engineering offices at Ennis, County Clare.

It is not possible at present to say when exactly work on this project will begin but it will be undertaken as early as practicable. The area engineering headquarters requirements at a number of centres, including Ennis, are being reviewed at present in the light of the latest projections of staff, stores, transport etc. to be catered for and of the costs involved in providing necessary accommodation.

(Clare): Would the Minister confirm that this tender was ready to go out on 11 July last?

He does not know.

11 July is not mentioned. I cannot confirm that. I can tell the Deputy that there are 36 area headquarters placed for contract. Works are progressing in most of them and some are finished and 26 remain to be dealt with. The question deals with Ennis as one of the 26 remaining to be dealt with. The first estimated cost of all these headquarters is now out of date. Among other things, consideration is being given to a new costing of these works and whether, with the experience gained in establishing other area headquarters, more can be provided at a lesser cost. Some have accommodation which the staff admit is elaborate. In other words, for the amount of money involved we may be able to have a much better programme finished much faster.

Typical Coalition Government.

Engineers are looking at possible modifications and it will be their decision, not mine.

(Clare): Is it not a fact that it was cleared to go to tender on 11 July last?

That is true.

I beg the Deputy's pardon?

(Clare): Is it not a fact that the contract for these offices was cleared to go to tender on 11 July?

No. The only information I have about Ennis is that——

It has been delayed.

The original proposal was to provide an E type area headquarters in Ennis, which is capable of accommodating 240 staff and associated support facilities. The current estimated cost of this headquarters is £1,600,000 including the cost of the site. In Ennis at the moment 80 people are working. Others will be brought in again and others brought in from other areas to use the headquarters, but the original plan was to accommodate 240. I am told by the engineers that they are looking at Ennis and the other 25 area districts to see, from the information they have obtained from the use of the area headquarters now built and in operation, and about to be taken possession of, what facilities would be necessary, what we can afford to pay and how fast we can get the job done.

The Minister of State's new words of "review" in one case and "delay and postponement" is another are really a cover-up for not going ahead with the programme as outlined?

Yes.

Is he now trying to convince this House or anybody in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, that this programme—which was totally reviewed many times in every aspect and on a monthly basis from time to time—is going to be scrapped altogether and that they are going to start off again? That is what he is talking about, if I have listened to him correctly. The case was fully assessed and it was ready to go to tender in July. It has not gone to tender, like many others.

Hear, hear.

Will he now openly admit to the House that he is now postponing the programme?

Precisely.

I want to assure Deputy Reynolds that there is no postponement of Ennis.

What is this?

I hope that he is listening to me correctly.

I am.

If he is listening to me correctly, the people concerned in this programme are much more informed on what the needs of the programme are than Deputy Reynolds or I.

The Deputy should speak for himself.

Speak for yourself, boy.

Unfortunately for Deputy Reynolds, I have to take their advice because I believe it to be dependable. It is very professional advice that I am taking and I will continue to take it.

I want to ask another supplementary.

I am sorry. I have gone on to Question No. 14.