Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If I were a high street retailer in a small town, I would be very concerned about that.

I have a final question. Given the intrinsic value of the post office network is the ease with which every citizen can access the range of services provided in the post office, did Grant Thornton try to figure out with An Post management how the range of services could be widened? We talk about competitive tenders, but we must take account of how business can benefit from the huge plus of a post office network that is accessible to the public. If it is the intention of Government to minimise travel to access essential and desirable services, can it not see the benefit of the post office network? It will not happen by accident but An Post must develop a business model that exploits its strengths.