Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I am sorry for being late. I was chairing the transport committee but I really wanted to be here to show solidarity with the network throughout south Tipperary.

To be clear, there are 845 postmasters and postmistresses. Roughly, what is the average age? I assume they have a big challenge in terms of people retiring and nobody willing to take on the business. For me, social cohesion is what it is all about. I just want to acknowledge the extent to which the postmasters and postmistresses are a positive force in the community.

I acknowledge something Deputy Malcolm Byrne talked about, that is, what the vision for ten years' time is. I like this idea of transitioning into community hubs and digital hubs. That is where the future is, but right now it is about survival of the fittest.

I want to ask the Department whether there has been any analysis to determine how closures or reduced hours have impacted on older and isolated people. Has there been any analysis of how post office closures impact on economic and social cohesion? Social cohesion is what is it about for me. What price do we put on social cohesion? For me, €15 million is not nearly enough. One cannot put a figure on that. I see the impact of the post office network in my constituency. I have seen some post offices close. The average age of our postmasters and postmistresses concerns me. The best way to encourage a new generation of postmasters and postmistresses is to look after the current generation of postmasters and postmistresses.

I would like to properly understand the viability question and see some examples of the business and financial model of a typical local post office. Mr. McRedmond talked about how some of these rural post offices were still in the ownership of the post office and about possibly selling some of them because they would be more viable in the private sector. I am struggling to reconcile that with the real viability issue that we talked about in terms of the postmistresses and postmasters.

Has there been any analysis done in terms of the rural isolation issue? It is about social cohesion. The Government and the Department have to step up to the mark and recognise that we can frame a long-term vision, but it is about survival in the short term, social cohesion and what price we put on it. A figure of €15 million is not nearly enough.