Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Opposition for tabling this motion. The post office network is key to rural areas just as it is key to large parts of Dublin. In the constituency I represent there are many areas that have nothing other than a post office. Not only is it economically important, it has a greater social integration importance than any other thing in society. People working in post offices - the postal delivery people, postmasters and postmistresses, are doing more for people socially than any anybody else. We need to have a debate on and cherish the service.

In the last three years of the previous Government, comprising Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Independents, 197 rural post offices were closed. We have seen AIB being brought into them. When the Labour Party was last in power we introduced the processing of passports through them. I say to the Fine Gael Deputies that they would be heading for a general election and not local elections if they keep their smart alecky comments trying to blame the Labour Party for anything other than a good plan.

There is a certain hysteria at the moment with people handing out telephone numbers and asking other people to ring their Deputies. I am delighted they are ringing us because we are getting in a position where we can engage with them and say we need to provide more services, ensure the sustainability and keep the people who are here employed and keep them rooted in society. It is more about social dynamics than economics. The Minister gets that and we have impressed it upon him. There has to be a plan about sustainability particularly in rural areas. It is high time that we had an overall plan for rural areas to create some sustainable jobs and allow people truly believe they can raise their families in rural areas.

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