Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I begin by thanking both of the witnesses for their contributions. I am disappointed with the whole outcome. I do not buy into the excuse that many of the post offices that are being closed were unviable. That is the witnesses' perception, I do not agree with their sentiments. What we should be doing here today is giving those post offices support. As rural Deputies we are expected to come in here and accept this. We are not accepting it and it is very clear from the sentiment expressed here by the committee that we will not take this, nor will the people who we represent. I am getting calls from communities in Laois, Offaly and north Tipperary. People are very angry and frustrated and it is another blow to rural Ireland but we will not accept it any more. We will not put up and shut up, it is as simple as that. I wish the postmasters and postmistresses who are taking the voluntary contribution and retiring well. It is their entitlement and we all respect that but what is the process for putting in replacement contracts? In this great democratic institution, why is the motion that the Rural Independents put forward two years ago which many of us spoke on and we all supported not recognised?

This should never be happening today. We should be here to talk about further supports for our communities.

Mr. McRedmond mentioned further expansion of the post office network, including opening new post offices. Does this mean a re-examination and reassessment of post offices in towns with a growing population that were closed because the postmaster or postmistress retired and there was nobody to take up the position? I met Mr. Laverty of An Post in Killeigh, County Offaly, about two years ago to discuss a retirement in an area of growing population. There were concerns about the process of advertising the post. At the time a businessman was willing to use the co-location option in his supermarket. I ask Mr. McRedmond to revisit that and give those areas a chance because it is unfair.

At both the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and in this committee, a number of members have mentioned the Sparkasse model of banking. Is it possible to have representatives from Sparkasse appear before the committee, in addition to An Post representatives, to discuss this model? That is what should happen. We are a so-called democratic institution and it is only fair that everybody gets to contribute.

It has been brought to An Post's attention that the range of services Mr. McRedmond mentioned have not been advertised properly. Some areas feel aggrieved because they did not receive supports but also because members of the public are not aware of the services available. What are An Post's plans to advertise these services further?