Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Postmasters' Union commissioned a comprehensive report prepared by Grant Thornton. The report outlined in detail the possibility of expanding the range of services provided by An Post post office network. It set out a compelling case for the new services contracts as identified. An Post has the capacity to facilitate additional services. The recommendation from the joint committee was that the post office network could assume responsibility for the processing of motor tax renewals and hospital charges as well as water charges, property tax, business rates, rents and other Government payments services and the potential of the post office network to deliver a basic payment account as part of the financial inclusion strategy. I ask if there is some innate opposition at Government level. All Ministers, when asked, are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring the viability of the post office network so I ask where is the problem.

There is an opportunity to make greater use of the post office network and we should set about seizing these opportunities. An Post has to be proactive and I acknowledge it has diversified into partnerships with AIB, One Direct and Aviva Insurance. The post office also facilitates payment of the property tax. It faces a challenge in the face of the significant decrease in letter and parcel post and the threat from electronic communications such as e-mails and texts. All the relevant Departments must recognise the social aspect of the post office network and this must be embedded as a core objective. The Departments should co-operate in the preparation of a comprehensive plan in conjunction with the board of An Post. I acknowledge the independence of the board and the need to comply with public procurement regulations. The Government should set about this work and report within six months. This would be a vital signal to the post office workers and the sub-post offices in rural Ireland because they feel threatened by the likes of letters from the Department of Social Protection indicating that payments for jobseeker's allowance and pre-retirement allowances will be lodged directly to bank or building society accounts. This is a silly policy. Clients should have the option of using a post office. I ask the Minister for Social Protection to ensure this option is available. Things wither and die if they are not used. This bureaucratic decision will mean that the post office may not have an opportunity to continue doing such business and continue to survive.

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