Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last week I had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Bobby Kerr of the Post Office Network Business Development Group which recently produced an excellent report. He told us that the group intended to finish its work by October this year. A number of recommendations will be made to the Government soon. We are looking at network renewal, the basic payment and motor tax issues. These are measures that can enhance and support rural post offices. The group is examining every aspect of the operations of rural post offices. That will not be an easy task, but we will divide them into three or four categories, including bigger post offices, those in cities and towns and those in rural areas. We will examine the possibility of providing for reskilling and retraining those who have worked in post offices for many years. We will also try to get the communities involved in poviding community hubs, including the local shop, the post office or other services provided in the local community. We are examining these issues and committed to having some recommendations, particularly for the Government, in the near future. As the group has committed to finishing its work by October, we will have plans and announce what we intend to do.