Mr. Gavin Kelly:

On the branches in Wicklow, I have spent time in all three locations that are affected. I understand where the Deputy is coming from in terms of the impact on communities. The deal with An Post is key for us because we have seen usage in all three locations drop over the last number of years. There are 23 post offices and five remaining Bank of Ireland branches in County Wicklow. Carnew, Rathdrum and Tinahely are closer to locations in Wexford as well, so we have ensured good coverage so customers have access to a branch and to a post office. In the three locations in question, the distance between some of the post offices and the three branches is less than 100 yds. That is an important factor in our decision but we will work with the groups involved. The other thing that is important is that while the branch might be closing, our support for the community will not change in terms of business advisers and youth advisers doing education in schools, for example. All those supports will continue in Wicklow and in all others all counties as they are today for the next number of years.

I cannot comment on the relationship directly between An Post and the postmasters but I will give a view. I am involved in the negotiations on the contract with An Post. As a number of these services are added together, they get a scale effect for the postmasters. We are contributing to that but the committee would have to talk to the post office about the contract they have directly with postmasters.

We are conscious of the impact on staff. As Ms McDonagh said, there will be no compulsory redundancies for staff. We have invested significantly in upskilling staff over the last year. A number of staff have been helping and supporting our contact centres, which can now be supported from working from home, or they can reallocate to other branches. Staff have that choice and we are working through it with them ahead of the change in September. Staff will be protected during this change. If they want voluntary redundancy, we have that available since last year and will support that.