§ Mr. BRADYasked the number and rank of the Royal Engineers at present employed in the Southern (Ireland) district in constructing and maintaining telegraphs and telephones?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELThe number is 113, and they are ranked as follows:— One major, five captains, two lieutenants, one warrant officer, four staff sergeants, seven sergeants, eleven corporals, ten second corporals, twelve lance-corporals, sixty sappers.
§ Mr. BRADYasked the Postmaster-General if it is his intention, at or subsequent to the transfer of the National Telephone Company's system to the State, to use either the Royal Engineers at present in the district or additional Royal Engineers to be brought into the same for the carrying out of the duties or any of the duties now or to be performed by the company's staff in the Southern (Ireland) district?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELI am afraid I can add little to my answer to the question asked by the hon. Member on this subject on the 17th instant. The question of the organisation of the staff of the National Telephone Company, after the transfer to the State, is at present under consideration by a Departmental Committee, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the point raised by the hon. Member.