Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this important debate on the committee's report. It is timely, given the recent announcement that An Post is the preferred bidder to continue the Department of Social Protection's contract. This is important for the future of the An Post service as well as for all citizens.

The importance of the post office network to rural Ireland has been well rehearsed in the House. Donegal has seen a number of closures in recent years. These have had negative impacts on communities across the county. That the network is also vital in urban areas shows An Post's importance as an entity. For example, post masters have told me of the importance of human contact to people in urban areas who visit their post offices to collect their weekly pensions. The staff and customers have built relationships. This is good for the social well being of everyone in rural and urban Ireland. We should maintain this aspect.

The report's amber light proposal is worthwhile. An Post should do more to communicate with communities about what is happening in the network. Currently, a decision to close a post office has already been made by the time An Post communicates with a community. It is not a discussion on whether to keep the office open, but on how to manage its closure. It is probably too late for the community to save the service.

The citizens of this country are the sole shareholder in An Post. Through this House and the Minister's office, we should be able to direct An Post to do what we want it to do. Clearly, people want it to provide services and to maintain a presence in rural communities. Government policy should be to ensure this. All Departments must work together to determine opportunities for rolling out government services through the An Post network, which is in most communities.

In this regard, one of An Post's best opportunities in the coming years will be that of the roll-out of the basic payment account. The Government must ensure that An Post is at the heart of that roll-out. Some 51% of An Post's payments are over-the-counter cash payments. People who are unbanked and cannot access bank accounts for electronic payments - approximately 18% of our society - are the same people who collect cash from An Post. We would be able to maintain this system if An Post was at the heart of the roll-out. People would have basic payment accounts and be able to collect money from tried and trusted people in their communities' post offices on a weekly basis.

It would also benefit anti-fraud measures by the Department of Social Protection. I raised this point with the Minister, Deputy Burton, last week. There is less chance of fraud if human contact is maintained when people come to collect their social welfare payments. That is vital, especially when the new contract will see a move towards electronic payments. The Government, and society in general, needs to realise that An Post is of vital concern to our postal network. If that means discussing the matter in Europe to maintain the network, then we need to do so. We should be maintaining what is a vital public service throughout the country.

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