Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are very committed to continuing to support the post office network. As part of the budgetary process this year, we are engaging with the Department of public expenditure on the renewal of that three-year agreement. It is subject to what happens in the budget itself but it is fair to say that, as the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, and I have outlined previously, we are absolutely committed as a Government to making sure we take the steps that see our post office network as strong and vibrant as possible and in every parish and part of the country. It is very much to the fore in our budgetary considerations. I have been in contact regularly with postmasters. I attended their annual conference six weeks or so ago, and we will continue to engage with them. Oireachtas Members across all the aisles are very aware of the value of post offices now more than ever, given the absence of many other services in some of our towns and villages. We want to make sure we do what is necessary to fully support them.