Mr. Ned O'Hara:

If one takes a postmaster at the average earnings of approximately €60,000, and bear in mind that he must provide a premises as well, he is going to lose 10% of that, which is €6,000, and whatever his top-up payment would be, which could be in the order of €4,000. He is going to lose €10,000 of the €60,000 and drop to €50,000.

I will give another example. I spoke to a postmaster in a busy office in Dublin recently whose contract is advertised at €80,000. The costs associated with that contract are €70,000, so whoever takes over that post office will be faced with costs of €70,000 and revenue of €80,000. It is a gap of €10,000 for the person to run that post office. The postmaster will be working for less than the staff he or she employs.