Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I call on all Oireachtas Members to lead by example and access the post office for their business.

I am pleased that An Post has again won the social protection contract for another five years. It is imperative that postmasters, An Post, the Government and the public step up to the mark and support the post office. An Post management also needs to come forward to support the sub-office branch network. I appeal to the Department of Social Protection to let its clients come to the post office to access their services.

Deputy Conway mentioned different Ministers in terms of business put through the post office network. I would remind her that the Minister for Finance is in charge of the NTMA, which has the second biggest contract with the sub-post offices. I would also include that in the record but I take the Deputy's point.

In my time in the business I have seen post offices within a 15 mile radius close, including those at Cahermore, Garnish, Adrigole, Trafrask, Coomhola and Waterfall. We do not need any of these communities losing those services.

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