John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter. I wish the retiring postmasters, Ann and Billy Rodgers, well in their retirement. They have given long and distinguished service. Knockmore is the largest parish in Mayo and the parishes of Knockmore and Rathduff stretch from Foxford to Ballina and Crossmolina. There are 1,200 homes and between 3,000 and 4,000 people. Two post offices, in Corroy and Cloghans, were closed in the past ten years in the parish. The real issue is the criteria used to arrive at this decision. The decision was taken in secret and news broke over the weekend. An expression of interest was made by the local shop, Corcoran's, but was not responded to by An Post until the announcement that the decision had been made.

That is not good enough. How will elderly people who do not have transport access services to the local post offices in Foxford or Ballina if this post office closes and there is no public transport? Local businesses or interested parties should be allowed run the post office on a trial basis and let the people of Knockmore demonstrate the need for the post office in the area. That would be transparent, measurable and would not need to be confirmed until the end of that two year period.

I ask the Minister to instruct An Post to conduct a public consultation not just in Knockmore, but in any other area of the country. There is a need for transparency, openness and consultation but in this case we have an example of the direct opposite.

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