Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 12 March 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications

Sustainability of Post Office Network: An Post

10:40 am

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I call the members, I have a few questions for Mr. Daly. As he said, this issue has been highlighted at this committee and during a debate on a Private Members' motion in recent weeks. To set the platform for the debate today and the questions members may have, we have heard during the debate in recent weeks that everyone - An Post, the Irish Postmasters' Union, the Minister and the communities - wants to retain the post offices and the post office network, but at the same time there is a great deal of crossfire from all the different groups. They all say they want to retain the post office network, but everyone is blaming everyone else for the reason it is under threat. That is a summary of the debate so far.
When representatives of the Irish Postmasters' Union appeared before the committee two weeks ago, they spoke about all of the major stakeholders engaging in a period of a consultation or negotiation, as there has not been meaningful consultation. They would say it isa fait accompliwhen there is engagement between An Post and the IPU; in other words, that there has not been meaningful negotiation. I believe I am reflecting what they said in that respect. I would be interested to hear Mr. Daly's comments on that.
Another big issue that arose in the debate in recent weeks is the partnership between An Post and Tesco in recent times. I believe there is a pilot partnership between the two. Mr. Daly might comment on that. It is happening, but does it not conflict with or dilute the service that the post office offers? While it is slightly different in large urban areas, if the post office service in Swinford, a town of a few thousand people in my own constituency, went into the Tesco branch in the town, it would destroy the business of the local post office. That would be a major issue locally.
Mr. Daly mentioned that following his last visit to the committee An Post had changed its consultation process with communities in regard to their local post offices. As he will be aware, we had a report that pushed hard for that. I was pushing at the time for something more than that. The major stakeholders are the communities. There are allegations that even though consultation takes place, at the end of the day sometimes the decision is made without reference to that. I am only saying what is reflected in what we hear. Could this be taken a stage further - that is, if a worrying trend was developing in an area, could the community be offered the opportunity to demonstrate over a trial period that it wanted to keep its post office? I would like to get Mr. Daly's observation on that suggestion.
Mr. Daly mentioned that An Post is in discussion with banks and so on, because the issue of banking facilities arose. I believe it is in discussion with Ulster Bank. He might comment on that.
Another issue reflected in the recent debate was that the post offices have delivered efficient services in the provision of passports, property tax collection and so on. I would like to hear Mr. Daly's ideas on how such services could be expanded.
A further issue is the contracts with postmasters. Are the contracts for five years? Has there been consultation on that? In the past a post office could be passed on to a family member, but I believe that practice has finished. Those issues are causing concern on the ground. There are a fair few points there and Mr. Daly might comment on those before I call the members.

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