Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I saw every bit of it. Glin and Abbeyfeale are the nearest to Asdee and Duagh. Nine post offices in one circle in north Kerry are being closed, including Ballylongford, Ballymacelligott, Moyvane, Kilflynn and Asdee. If a few more are gone the only places people will be able to go is Listowel, Tarbert and Tralee. That is all that will be left in north Kerry. Mr. McRedmond could run the biggest company in the world and make a profit from it. I would go so far as to say that if he was selling sand in the Sahara desert he would make a profit there. However, post offices are different. They are a social service for people and the Minister should treat them as such. The Minister outlined all the work he has done, but he has much more to do. He must treat the post offices differently. They are a social service for the people. Mr. McRedmond said one would be closed so that two would survive. However, if Lixnaw in north Kerry is closed and Ballyduff is left open, does he know the rivalry, difference and identity that the people in these parishes wish to retain? They want to retain their identity. That is what it is about, and they are not being allowed to do that. The witnesses can dress it up whatever way they wish but they are tearing the hearts and guts from these communities.

The Minister said that they were the nucleus and that new innovative services should be put in them. That is a role for the Minister and Mr. McRedmond. It is the Government's role. It is not the role of the communities. It is not the role of the old person who has always gone to the local post office for his or her pension or of the mother who collects her child benefit. That is being done away with now. In one community, Gneeveguilla, there are 1,200 people and there will be no post office. In a short time there will be no shop there. One can tell them to go to the post office in Rathmore and that it is 7 km to that post office. However, there are other parts of Gneeveguilla that are much further than 15 km away.