§ Mr. WILLIAM REDMONDasked the Postmaster-General if he will say which of the following languages, Irish, French, or German, is most used in the transaction of postal business in Ireland, and which is the most useful for postal officials in the Irish Office?
The hon. Member further asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he can state the number of postal orders filled in in Irish which have to be dealt with in Ireland, and the number filled in in French and German; (2) how many letters addressed to Irish have to be translated annually by postal officials: whether such letters, even if posted in Irish-speaking districts, have to be sent to Dublin for translation, thus causing delay; and how many letters addressed in French and German have to be translated annually in Ireland?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI have no information which would enable me to furnish the statistics for which the hon. Member asks. The address of a letter addressed in Irish is translated at the office where the letter is posted, if there is an officer there who knows Irish, and if interference is not thereby caused to his ordinary work. In other cases letters are sent to Dublin for translation.