Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will move on to my own questioning. The big issue at the moment is that postmasters all over the country are facing a cliff edge on 1 July. Ms Byrne made reference to the busier post offices. I have had interaction with them and many had non-core activities that were giving them additional income which disappeared completely during the pandemic. Many of them have struggled. The payment model is an arrears model. An Post has made a submission to the Government. Is Mr. McRedmond at liberty to give an indication of the contents of that submission? What has been the interaction with Government on that? Reference was made to a pandemic payment. What exactly is that?

There is concern about 1 July among postmasters in both rural and urban areas. I am a Deputy living in an urban area in the city of Limerick but I represent a sizeable rural area as well so I see this from every perspective. On 1 July, what is the payment model going to be for post offices? People can go to their local post office to post their letters, collect their pensions or other social welfare payments and so on. I appreciate what Ms Byrne is saying about the PUP. The witnesses also spoke about co-location but that is more expensive because many postmasters would be renting units within shopping centres. It is different model.

In summary, has An Post made a submission to Government? What is in that submission? What is An Post asking for? Is the €17 million referenced in the Grant Thornton report wide of the mark? What will be in place on 1 July for postmasters all over the country? How will it differ from what is there at the moment or will it be the same? Will An Post defer any decisions on a new payment model pending the outcome of the review currently being carried out by the Government?