Mr. Patrick Neary:

A scheme is in place. We have heard already that it has been very successful in slowing down anyone leaving the network itself. The Government is strongly supportive of the continuation of a similar scheme. The submission we received from the post office network referred to a sum of €15 million. As the Senator said, we are very much engaged with other Departments in terms of securing a scheme that will sustain the network. It is in the programme for Government as a priority, and our submission and the support of our Minister reflect that strongly.

On the future of An Post and the post office network, we are very closely engaged with An Post on its future strategy. We have a very strong corporate governance team that works hand in glove with it on the future of An Post as it evolves. We heard earlier that it is a very dynamic market and significant changes are coming into it. That puts pressure on change and on looking at new areas of either Government services and parcel delivery while the mail volumes and other transactions are declining. We are working very closely with An Post on its strategy and future strategy. We are supported by other Government agencies in that engagement. To say what the future will be beyond five years is probably a little bit of a stretch for us now. I know An Post's strategy, published last year, looked out for the coming five years and we are very much engaged.