Mr. David McRedmond:

In response to Deputy Neville regarding what decided the 500, a detailed analysis was carried out. There was no clear plan in terms of defining areas in the context of a strategy for rural Ireland. We did a lot of analysis and concluded that 500 was the number which could best define towns in Ireland. It was the census definition but, as I have already said, I will revert to the committee on that point. What if a town grows? At any time, it is open to any community to apply to have a post office and we are open to that. We are also open to different solutions. We are open to PostPoint, parcel depots and post offices and anybody can apply at any time. We have a protocol in place to determine whether it is viable. That is why we announced recently that we are opening post offices in Ballon, County Carlow, Kilworth, County Cork, Tullyallen, County Louth, Kentstown, County Meath, and Killane, County Sligo. We are opening post offices as well as going through this consolidation.

Senator Mac Lochlainn asked about the EU postal services directive. As the Minister has clarified, it applies to the mail service but not to the post office service as such. I will have to check if 755 post offices closed in that period and confirm it for the Senator.