Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Broughan. As a former post office clerk, I take a great interest in this matter. I have met the IPU, the Minister and some colleagues from my days in the post office and I know that honest efforts are being made to address the issue.

While this is primarily a matter for the management of An Post, the programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to the objective of securing the largest, most economically sustainable national post office network possible. The An Post post office network comprises the single largest number of retail outlets in the country, consisting of almost 1,000 automated post offices, 371 non-automated post offices and 171 postal agencies. An Post has also established almost 3,000 post point outlets in retail premises throughout the country, of which 600 can be used for bill payments. Effectively, the 1,000 automated offices transact 97.4% of overall post office business.

In the European context, Ireland has one of the highest number of post offices per head of population at 4.2 outlets per 10,000 inhabitants compared to the European Union average of 2.7. Research commissioned by the IPU in 2006 confirmed these figures. In recent years, some network restructuring has been undertaken. This activity is in line with similar trends across Europe. On a national basis, 80% of the post office network, which is situated in rural areas, serves 40% of the population.

The Government's commitment to the post office network extends to the postmasters, whose financial security and strong relationship with customers are vital to the continued viability of the network. It was in recognition of the importance of postmasters and postmistresses in respect of the viability of the network and the social fabric of communities that the Minister appointed Mr. Eamonn Ryan in January of last year to act as a facilitator between the IPU and An Post. I can think of no one better qualified, as he came up through the post office ranks. His mandate included issues such as the examination of the postmasters' contract. He was also mandated to assist the union to engage with the company on these matters. Recently, he completed a report on these issues and made a number of recommendations.

While the Government will support the network in any way it can, the development and continuing viability of An Post and the network is, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of the company. Consequently, the way forward is for An Post to enhance existing services, build on existing strengths and develop new product offerings. There is an urgent need for An Post to diversify its income streams and those of the postmasters and postmistresses.

It was with this in mind that in September, the Government gave its approval to a joint financial venture between An Post and Fortis, a Belgian bank. This will entail the provision of a range of financial services operated through the An Post branch network using the An Post brand and other An Post assets.

The security of post offices concerns us all because decent people are going about their business. I do not like the idea of "tiger raids", as that phrase makes armed thuggery against decent people sound attractive, which was not the Deputy's intention. I understand that An Post has made a significant investment in the network as part of its security upgrade programme. The installation of new and upgraded security equipment as part of this programme continues.

Almost 1,000 post offices are automated, with these conducting the vast majority of the network's business. A pilot project has recently been carried out by An Post, as part of which ten offices were automated and the consequent effect on business monitored. The data gathered as part of this project is currently being analysed.

If An Post and its network are to prosper and grow, it must adapt to the demands of its customers and place delivery of quality services as its primary focus. This will be important in the context of future liberalisation of the mail market. Coming, as I do, from a post office background, I believe there is a massive asset here. I suggest, and hope, An Post will be vigorous in identifying new products because this is an extraordinary network and the Government is committed to maintaining it to the maximum possible extent.

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