§ * MR. MICHAEL FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the English and Irish mails due in Limerick from Dublin at 10.35 a.m. are frequently delayed at Limerick Junction and do not reach Limerick before 1.25 p.m.; that this delay at Limerick Junction causes still greater delay in the delivery of mails to the towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale, and Listowel and other towns on the North Kerry line, and also on the other side to towns situated as far as the Athenry and West Clare Railway; whether, owing to this delay, letters which should reach Listowel at 1.20 p.m. do not arrive there before 8 p.m., when they cannot be answered on the same day; and whether, considering the very grave loss and inconvenience to the public which this delay involves in so many towns in the south-west of Ireland, he will make inquiry into the matter with the view of having this unnecessary delay avoided?
§ MR. HANBURYThe results of a failure of junction between the day mail train from Dublin to Cork and the day mail train from Limerick Junction to Limerick are accurately described by the hon. Member, and in making any new arrangements with the Waterford and Limerick Railway Company the Department will consider whether a larger margin at Limerick Junction should not be provided with a view to reducing to a minimum the number of failures.
§ * Mr. FLAVINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all important letters from England, Dublin and Belfast, arrive in the greater portions of of Kerry and Limerick eight hours late, that therefore the replies are necessarily 16 hours late, and whether this is not a long standing grievance?
§ MR. HANBURYThat may be so, but, as I have said, new arrangements will be made with the Company almost immediately.