Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the witnesses know, a report was issued today on television licences. There was not particularly good news for An Post in so far as the collection service is concerned. As a former Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, I have always fought very strongly for An Post to get the contract for collection. Unfortunately, however, the collection misses a lot of people. About 15% of households are not paying. That is not very satisfactory. Those responsible are doing their best. It is not easy to collect licences, particularly in urban areas. There is a change coming, but it is one area of income which has been very useful. I renew it in my local post office.

I have a great faith in the post office system. I was there for a number of years, and I know the service that is provided the community. We must do our utmost to maintain post offices in rural areas. We are finished without them. Rural Ireland would be wiped out. Whatever moves the Minister makes to enhance the postal service, particularly post offices, are for the better as far as I am concerned. It will take a lot of work, and the service have great support from this committee. Every member of this committee would back the service in any way on any initiative that could build up local post offices.