Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

What is the approximate cost of automating a post office? The post office is central to communications, especially on the islands. The former Minister of Public Enterprise, Senator O'Rourke, mentioned a one stop shop approach to rural post offices which she was addressing at that stage, where various State services could be delivered in the one building. The idea was that this would generate some kind of income so one would get somebody to take on such post offices. Are such approaches being examined by anybody? Is the Minister really stating that the current position is there will be no movement on this because An Post will not pay for it and nobody else will pay for it, and there will be no automation?

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