Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

An Post needs to consider new approaches. The company has been talking about providing banking services for a long time. The company needs to get into that business and other areas.

The first time I met An Post it was not involved in the parcel business. Online shopping is increasing, with €6 billion worth of goods bought online last year. An Post had the infrastructure in place but it took the company a while to realise that was where the business was. Its business turned around because of the parcel business. The management spoke to the unions and started delivering parcels on Saturdays. An Post had to reinvent itself and I hope it does that with its post offices as well.

There are communities and businesses that are prepared to take on the post offices. An Post does not have to give them the full services but it can give them some of the services to keep the post offices alive in some of the areas where they can be kept alive. Approximately 950 post offices will be retained and I believe that number could be increased to 1,000 or more. An Post should look at certain post offices that are quite capable of providing the business and being profitable and I hope it will do so.