Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. I commend Deputy Durkan for putting down this motion and bringing before the House an extremely important matter.

Local post offices are a vital component of the fabric of communities in rural Ireland. Traditionally, the local Garda station, the corner shop, the parish church, the primary school and in bigger towns the secondary school and the post office were the five focal points of a community. All these elements are now under attack. On this Government's watch Garda stations have closed down, particularly in rural areas, and corner shops are being wiped out by big supermarkets and the stealth taxes imposed by the Government. Churches witness falling congregations and schools are under enormous pressure as rising numbers of pupils are not met with increased resources from the Government.

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