Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply to a number of issues I have raised. I take some comfort from the fact that An Post has give assurances that measures have been put in place to ensure that certain events will not happen again. However, this will need to be monitored. The Minister of State referred to the Garda Síochána warning customers to be vigilant to the presence of pickpockets. I had also included this in my report. If the activity taking place is leading to potential pickpocketing then this is further recognition of the problem.

The thrust of my representations on this issue is to have the payments for those 1,200 spread over five days rather than two. The Minister of State in his reply states that some 240 customers who normally receive payments at Lucan post office on Fridays, have now been moved to Tuesday pay day. I am not sure this will remedy the problem because notwithstanding some of the issues I have raised which have been contested in the report, anybody can go to Lucan post office any Thursday and Friday and see the queues out the door. This situation will not change with 240 customers being moved to a Tuesday pay day. The situation requires a more comprehensive adjustment and I ask why this cannot be made. I am willing to wait to see the impact of the 240 customers moving to a Tuesday pay day beginning this week but I ask the Minister of State to keep this under review and I would be happy to discuss it with him or the Minister.

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