Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and the members of the joint committee for giving me an opportunity to raise some issues. I commend all the representatives of the various groups and agencies who have contributed to this meeting by attempting to discuss the policy issues involved in providing greater communications regulation in Ireland and by addressing our concerns about the development of the post office network into the future.

I am delighted to welcome Mr. Bobby Kerr and I look forward to the implementation of his report. I believe this debate is of the utmost importance to the constituency I have been elected to represent. People in many rural towns and villages are living in fear and worry because the local post office has been lost or is under threat. People who are worried are watching and listening to us.

It is particularly important for Mr. McRedmond to comment on the position going forward in light of recent experiences. I would like to ask him about the ongoing difficulties caused by the closure of post offices in rural locations throughout Ireland and specifically about the status of two post offices in my constituency. There has been uncertainty about the future of Ballygawley post office in County Sligo for quite a while. I cannot understand why a decision has not been made.

Mr. McRedmond might be aware that in November 2016 I was advised by the management of An Post in Sligo that following the death some weeks before of the local postmaster, Mr. Colm McTiernan of Ballygawley post office, whom I knew, that an operational review of the post office needed to be undertaken by An Post. I argued against this, given the popularity of the post office and the ability of his wife to continue the business and service at Ballygawley.

Mr. Angus Lafferty, a public affairs manager with An Post subsequently confirmed to The Irish Times that the contract for Ballygawley post office was now under review. He said that a consultative period would continue until 2 December 2016. He finished by stating that a decision on whether to keep the post office open was expected some weeks later. As I am the local public representative, I alerted the community and the local media to the fact that it was important for the community to let An Post know how important their post office was to them during the time allocated for public submissions. I was pleased that hundreds of people have signed petitions and sent letters calling for this post office to be saved. I would like an indication from Mr. McRedmond as to when a decision can be expected on this issue from An Post. I have been in constant contact with Mr. Peter Gillespie, who is a fine ambassador and excellent employee of An Post at regional level about the urgent need for this post office to be retained in the local community and for a decision to be made on Ballygawley post office as well as the post office in Blacklion, County Cavan.