Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister's response, through no fault of her own, has caused me to be more rather than less concerned for the future of rural post offices. I accept An Post does not come within the remit of her Department. However, 500 post offices have been closed in the past eight years. This, coupled with a halving in the past ten years in the number of social welfare payments paid through post offices and the reduction in the number of bill payments at post offices, is a cause of genuine concern.

The Minister stated her Department had received legal advice on the judgment of 13 November from the European Court of Justice. When is it expected the review of that legal advice will be completed? Also, will the Minister give a commitment that she will during her tenure of office and, within the law and European regulations, try to ensure as many payments as possible can be made through post offices, a declining but important part of rural communities?

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