Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate and I congratulate Deputy Durkan on tabling the motion. Post offices are very important to rural society, not only because they provide services but also because they comprise a social arm of the State in the delivery of those services to many sections of society.

I ask that the outstanding labour relations difficulties concerning salaries and pension payments, which have led to so much distress and distrust among An Post's workforce, be addressed by way of the Government generating a sense of urgency and acting as a catalyst to solve the problem.

It is a disgrace that assistance has not been given for the computerisation, modernisation and upgrading of the entire network of post offices and sub-post offices. In this day and age, even the smallest businesses are computerised. An Post's services should be computerised to ensure efficiency.

The low pay received by a substantial number of postmasters, who are effectively subsidising the service by providing premises and working for less than the minimum wage and who are sometimes below the poverty line, must be addressed. The United Kingdom has recognised the importance of the post office network and the postmasters therefore receive a minimum payment of £9,000. This should be a ballpark figure on the basis of which the policy to ensure the continuation of the network in Ireland is developed.

I agree with the Minister of State that deregulation will be one of the greatest threats to the post office network but there are three years to prepare for it. The development and extension of a wide range of compatible services through the post offices should be achieved to ensure that, when deregulation occurs, An Post will be able to submit a tender and continue to be an arm of the Department of Social and Family Affairs through the payment of social welfare payments. Research should be undertaken on the use other Departments could make of the post office to ensure it has a place.

We congratulate Deputy Durkan on tabling this motion and reiterate that the Government has a duty to stop the decline of rural Ireland. One way to do so is to ensure the continuation of post offices and halt the stealthy closure of post offices, as in my area. Nobody will take over when the postmaster retires because it is not worthwhile to do so.

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