dispute among some staff.

Up to eight workers had staged a "sick-out'' protest over staffing levels at the North Street centre but meetings have now resolved the problems and the employees are back at work.

Yesterday, TCD director Donald Dane confirmed everything was back to normal and they were working to establish exactly what the issues were.

"We had meetings yesterday, and will continue to meet today to find out what the concerns are and try to resolve them,'' he said. "It is the changes that they are concerned about.

"We coped. There were no hitches or anything, the one person who was here was able to do all those things we are asking them to do. It went well, we just pulled together.'' The row was over a new system which was being introduced to speed up the licence and registration renewal process.

Under the new scheme, registration staff are to take on the additional role of cashiers -- so customers only have to queue once for their transactions.

The aim was to reduce waiting time via new computer technology and training for staff.

"What we are attempting to do is create a registration cashier one-stop shop,'' said Mr. Dane.

"We hope the new system will be brought in fairly soon.'' Eventually it is planned to de-centralise the entire operation, with Post Offices providing many of the services now offered at TCD.

Once computer software teething problems are ironed out, a trial will take place at two Post Offices. If that is a success, the scheme could spread across the Island.

GOVERNMENT GVT