§ MR. PATRICK ALOYSIUS M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether he is aware that the Post Office Department promised last year, through its surveyor, to lay a written statement before the Municipal Council of Sligo, in reference to the selection of a site for the proposed new post office in the borough; is he aware that up to the present no such statement and no application whatever in reference to the selection of a site have yet been laid before the Municipal Council; can he explain the delay; is he aware that several suitable sites are available at a reasonable figure, and that the only obstacle is the refusal of the Treasury to make a grant for any of them; and in view of the fact that the present post office premises are unsuitable and insanitary, and that four years have been spent in prospecting for a new site, will he order a special report on this subject?
§ MR. HANBURYI am not aware of the nature of the promise which may have been given to the Municipal Council of Sligo by the Post Office surveyor. But it is quite probable that he undertook that the Council should be consulted before any site was finally selected. Instructions have, at any rate, been given that steps should be taken to ascertain the views of the Council as to the position of the site at Fish Corner, Lower Knox Street, mentioned in my answer on Monday last to the question on this subject put to me by the hon. Member for North Sligo. There has been no unnecessary delay in the matter. Until recently no suitable site has been offered on terms which could be recommended to the Treasury for sanction; but if no objection is raised to "Fish Corner" the acquisition of that site will be recommended.