Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have passed on to An Post the concerns about Duncormick post office, in particular, which the Deputy mentioned. Contractual issues arose there and I understand notices have been posted locally inviting submissions from the local people. An Post has guaranteed me it will take them into account in making whatever decision it eventually arrives at, and that consultation process is quite deliberate.

The Deputy and myself are at one in welcoming the diversification that has recently taken place in the post office. More of that needs to happen as its core business has been seriously affected by electronic substitution. It is as simple as that. The volume of letters has been falling. One can call it progress, technology or whatever one wishes but that is the reality of the environment in which An Post is trying to survive.

I am sorry that although I gave the Deputy the opportunity to break the news about the collection of the property tax, he did not rise to his feet to welcome it. I thought he would welcome the fact that the facility is being made available. It demonstrates the entrepreneurial instinct of An Post and it is a positive step.

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