James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is significant. There is a huge amount of concern in many rural communities as to what will happen in terms of that shift and as to whether the vast majority of post offices will be able to pick up the level of services banks were able to offer.

I will use this forum to state, and I am sure An Post is listening, that a degree of clarity is urgently required from Bank of Ireland and An Post for everybody involved, including the postmasters and the public at large. The September deadline from Bank of Ireland's point of view is approaching quickly and local businesses and communities around the country need that certainty. I appreciate that Mr. O'Hara was able to give us some insight into that.