Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I must put on the record that I am a postmaster. I am a member of the Irish Postmasters Union and I am a contractor of An Post. The post office has been in the family for 50 years in the community in Ballinalee, County Longford. It is important that the word "community" was mentioned because every single one of the 900-odd post offices is part of a community and central to them throughout the country. They are also central to the footfall of ancillary businesses in every single community. I refer to the community dividend post offices bring throughout the country. We must keep in mind the costs that would be on the Government for other supports if that network fell.

I am probably one of the 40% that would go if funding is not put in place. The €10 million allocation has not worked. As a postmaster, I can say that we need the €15 million. It is not just me who needs it but hundreds of other offices throughout the country – and hundreds of other communities. That is what this is about: it is not about Micheál Carrigy and probably 300-odd postmasters, it is about 300 communities that will suffer and lose the heart of their community. If that happens, other businesses will go with it. The investment of €30 million that was made two and a half years ago was a wise investment by the Government. I strongly believe that the €15 million, at a minimum, which has been sought is now required over a five-year period. There is strong support for that in the programme for Government. We must deliver on it. That is what I would say to everyone involved, in particular the departmental officials. The commitment is in the programme for Government, and we must deliver on it for communities throughout the country.

I have a couple of questions about additional services for all the witnesses, including the Department. Could I ask the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post what other new services we could perform on behalf of the State? Could they also comment on the commission we get for products? What will happen if the funding stops or if it is not continued? They are the figures and that is what people need to realise. If there are closures then communities will be affected.