Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McRedmond. If members agree, we will use the same procedure as we did on the previous round. We will start with the members of the committee and then I will go to other members who indicated. I will start.

Will Mr. McRedmond outline whether he has a breakdown of the reasons for the proposed 159 closures? How many post offices will close because the relevant postmaster or postmistress is retiring? How many will close because they are operating at a loss?

Will Mr. McRedmond outline An Post's level of engagement with local businesses that have expressed an interest in taking over the postal service. Is An Post approaching businesses within communities? Is it waiting for communities to approach it? I am sure some of my colleagues have received correspondence about this matter. In that context, I am aware, for example, that a number of businesses in Gurteen, County Sligo, are interested in taking over the post office network there, which deals with 1,100 transactions per week. They are going to contact An Post. What has been the level of engagement? There is a narrative to the effect that some businesses are not being communicated with or are being told that there is no interest there.