Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

I am disappointed that the Minister has not been able to answer the question more directly. This question was first asked prior to Christmas, at which time he indicated that those decisions would be made by the end of 2005. We are now two months into 2006 but no decision has yet been made. Will the Minister expand on the information and give the number of applications that have been sought from his Department, when a decision is likely to be made and the funding implications of positive decisions being made in each case?

Does the Minister accept that for the island communities involved, automation should be adopted, especially in terms of social welfare payments because of the insistence on this policy by his Cabinet colleague, Deputy Brennan, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. In more urban areas it appears that social welfare recipients are being pushed towards the banking system but no such option exists on many of the islands. This is a service that can and must only be provided through An Post.

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