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

I wish to raise an issue and then Deputy Healy-Rae, who is not a member of the committee, wants to comment.

I want to encapsulate this issue so that it is not abstract. I am a Deputy in Limerick city and I cover the area of north County Tipperary. I am also an accountant by training and I have looked at this on a practical level. I am aware this is causing difficulties for urban, rural and city areas regardless of their size.

A critical dates is 30 June because that is the date by which postmasters must decide and must give six months' notice, while the pandemic supports from An Post will last until the end of December. We will have the Minister before the committee on 1 June, which is two or three days prior to the annual conference, and we are looking for representatives of An Post to attend as well. I know there have been difficulties getting new people to take up the contracts as people have retired or are retiring. People setting up as a postmaster cannot do it in a hole in the wall, as it were, anymore. They have to rent, and in many cases rent good premises.

A question we did not touch on today is how many people are employed in the post offices run by the members Mr. O'Hara represents.