Mr. David McRedmond:

Deputy O'Keeffe asked for a 12-month period for the appeal. When I pointed to An Post, within one month, postmasters were marching on the GPO - not because of me, I presume. They were marching because they said that An Post and I were dragging its heels in making decisions. The first Kerr report had been done about two years prior to that, so it was nearly three years old. They were screaming to get on with it because they were suffering. I cannot give the Deputy the answer regarding the average number of transactions, although that can be provided. The average amount they were earning was €27,000. That was not a salary. Out of the €27,000, they have to pay for a premises, light and heat. They have to pay for additional staff if they are on holidays. They have to pay for all that. It is simply not viable.

I hear what Deputy Fitzmaurice said and I accept the challenges. I wish that post offices were viable in communities of fewer than 500 but we need people and products. Products are not enough and there simply are not enough people. We know the number of transactions that go through all of the post offices, so we do see it, and the Deputy is correct that we will not be stupid regarding a post office that is viable.