Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Hara and Mr. O'Callaghan for their excellent presentations. It is clear that the maintenance of the post office network is at the core of the work they are doing. Members who come from constituencies in which post offices have closed have seen the really negative impact the closures have had on the villages affected. The closure of its post office effectively removes a core component of the village. There is little doubt but that once the post office closes, other businesses cease to exist.

Mr. O'Hara and Mr. O'Callaghan referred to the situation during the pandemic and post pandemic and the need to take stock of where people are now at and the services they require. There is no doubt that there is a difficulty in maintaining a post office purely based on transactions because people are doing far more online, but the fact is that some people still need the opportunity to do their transactions face to face. It has always been my view that while that demand exists, it is incumbent on the State to provide the service. Indeed, I think it can grow.

I agree with the witnesses that it cannot just be about transactions. They offered views around whether the community banking model is the way forward. As Mr. O'Hara indicated, it is not a panacea, although I am not sure that is necessarily how it is being portrayed. It is another service that could be provided. I have been around these Houses long enough to know that a significant amount of lip service has been paid by all political parties to the post office network. There have been talks about services and another review of the banking opportunity in terms of community banking, etc. However, the real crisis is now. The money needs to be in place by June. Unless it is in place, the network will continue to diminish and we will see the demise of many more post offices. The only way to proceed for now is to make a very clear demand of the Government that a public service obligation be put in place as a first measure in order to prevent the closure of any more post offices. Such action must include the post office in Broadford, County Clare, which closed recently.

We need to stop the haemorrhage and draw a line under the closure of post offices. Only then can we move to all the reviews and recommendations about the array of services that could be provided, including community banking, motor tax and other taxes and other State services. To be honest, I am disappointed that we are into another round of reviews and looking at services and opportunities that have been thrashed out in various reports. I must state on the record that I think it is being used yet again as a ruse to placate the postmasters who are rightly identifying a very serious problem.

Do Mr. O'Hara and Mr. O'Callaghan agree that an immediate cash injection is needed to ensure we stem the loss of post offices? Do they agree that they will, over time, work with all concerned to ensure that whatever State services can be delivered, will be delivered?