asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is aware that the existing delivery sorting office for Tallaght, County Dublin, is utterly and entirely inadequate to serve the town of Tallaght with upwards of 80,000 local residents and that the conditions of work in the existing old sorting office are causing serious protest and lack of morale among the employees of his Department who are compelled to work there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

26.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date of commencement of the lease of the warehouse premises on the Airton Industrial Estate, Tallaght, County Dublin, leased by or for his Department for the purpose of a new delivery office for the Tallaght area of County Dublin; the amount of rent paid in respect of this warehouse from the date of commencement of the lease to date.

27.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the date on which his Department or the Commissioners of Public Works on their behalf took possession of the proposed new delivery office for the Tallaght area in the Airton Industrial Estate, Tallaght, County Dublin; and when it is intended to put this industrial building to the use for which it was acquired by his Department or the Commissioners of Public Works on behalf of his Department.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 26 and 27 together.

I agree that the delivery office in Tallaght needs to be replaced. Arrangements to do so have been delayed by financial constraints but I expect tenders for fitting out the new premises to be sought shortly.

The lease on the new delivery office at Broomhill Industrial Estate commenced on 1 May 1981 and the Department took possession of the property on that date. It is not the practice to disclose rents.

Is the Minister telling the House that since May 1981 his Department have been in possession of an alternative new premises in the industrial estate at Tallaght and have been paying rent for it, whatever that rent may be, but that those premises have remained unused for that two-and-a-half year period?

That seems to be the position.

Is this not a scandalous waste of public money?

What the Deputy is saying is factual but it would be fair to say that there were other Ministers dealing with the matter before my time. However, I can assure the Deputy that for as long as I am in charge of this Department I will ensure that this sort of thing will not happen again.

Obviously, I was referring to the Department rather than to the individual Minister, having regard to the period involved. Can the Minister say when these new premises will be brought into service? Second, is the Minister aware that they are on the verge of a strike situation by reason of the appalling working conditions in the old premises?

I am aware of the bad working conditions in the old premises.

Can the Minister say when something will be done?

I cannot give an exact date, but as early as possible.

Has the Minister any definite information that a previous Minister was responsible for the delay or were the Department's officials involved?

It is customary for the Minister to accept responsibility, not officials.

The Minister accepts responsibility.