Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue. I join with Deputy O'Mahony in praising Billy and Ann Rodgers for the service they have provided. There has been a post office in Knockmore since 1847. That is the tradition we are discussing. As Deputy O'Mahony stated, there are 1,200 homes in Knockmore with a large and vibrant parish and, therefore, commercially An Post is turning its back on a revenue raising opportunity and a revenue source that has been very good to An Post and its predecessor for all of that time.

Knockmore parish has done its bit in terms of the reorganisation of postal services in that two of the three post offices in the parish have already been closed. As other Deputies stated, a business in the area has indicated it is willing to consider hosting the post office and if An Post was to bother advertising that I have no doubt that other community-based commercial interests would come forward with the same proposals.

I accept this is an operational issue for An Post but the Minister is the shareholder. He represents shareholder interests in the organisation, and shareholder interests in any organisation seek to ensure that the commercial income is maximised. However, in the case of An Post the commercial income should be maximised with respect and an acknowledgement of its community responsibility.

Everybody can win in this case. If An Post turns its back on the parish of Knockmore, it is turning its back on substantial revenues as well as on its community responsibility, which it must adhere to for having the monopoly on the various services. The parish of Knockmore has shown itself on the football field, in boxing and in many areas to be a fighting parish. An Post should be aware that it has a fight on its hands but in fighting for this the parish of Knockmore, if it is given the opportunity, will show that the investment it wants to make in its post office is a commercial one. We are not doing anyone any favours in that respect. This is not a public service. It is an investment that will show a commercial return. That is what we want An Post to do. That is what the Minister, as the chief shareholder in the organisation, should seek. Rather than it being an operational issue for An Post, we need the Minister to intervene and ask it the reason it is turning its back on this revenue.

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