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

The question I am asking is a very hard one. Can An Post, providing a public service the length and breadth of the country, survive and be viable without annual State supports? The Grant Thornton report states there is a gap of around €17 million per annum. Mr. McRedmond has come back to the committee and it looks like the pandemic payment An Post is bringing will be funded from internal resources.

It is a hard question but it is the question that has to be asked. We are here as a committee to support and enhance the post office network. Senator Carrigy made reference to An Post having a bank. In my view, the company should be in the banking sector. It should be in that space as well.

I am asking Mr. McRedmond a difficult question. Can it function? It was allocated €30 million, but €15 million of that was to do with the network.