Mr. Mark Griffin:

I believe in 2014 there were seven closures, in 2013 there were five closures, in 2012 there were four and in 2011 there were eight. If that is compared to the previous six or seven years - in 2010 there were 72 closures, in 2009 there were 12 closures, in 2008 there were 13, in 2007 there were 76 closures, in 2006 there were 47 closed - there has been a relative decline in the number of post office closures. I know that it is not a decision taken very easily by An Post. It does have an engagement process at local level in the event that a postmaster or postmistress intends retiring-----