Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The consultation process with the community is under way but I am concerned that a short period was provided for the process in this case, given a temporary licence was granted for the post office a few weeks ago. This has not allowed for proper consultation to take place. Barnaderg is a diverse community and the people have to come up with a business plan. They do not have experience in this regard. The Minister of State outlined the criteria that need to be considered by An Post, including network coverage needs; the level of business at the office; customer access to service elsewhere, for example, travel distances, etc; and capacity of neighbouring offices to handle business if the office closes. These headings should have been relayed to the community from day one in order that people could prove the post office is viable.

While I acknowledge the banking sector is shrinking, in many rural areas, the banks are closing their branches in small rural towns.

Surely this is a situation on which An Post can capitalise. Instead of removing services from rural areas, it should provide even more services or restore those that were previously available.

In the instance to which I refer, there is a family member who is willing to take on the post office in Barnaderg as a going concern. The business has been viable during the entirety of its existence. There should be no need for consultation in respect of this matter. It is a different story in circumstances where, as previously stated, no one wants to take up a post office licence. That is simply not the case in this instance. All of the people in Barnaderg and Killererin to whom I have spoken want the post office to be retained and they want to ensure that the full range of services will continue to be offered there. I have no doubt that the local community will row in behind the post office more than ever before if it is retained. It is important that An Post takes this issue seriously and ensures that Barnaderg post office remains open.

On a general point, I am of the view that the consultation period should be longer and that more detailed information should be provided to local communities in respect of what they are expected to bring to the process in order that they might put forward the best case possible for the retention of their local post offices. Many things have already disappeared from rural areas. It will be very sad indeed if post offices start to disappear as well, particularly as they are essential to the integrity of all our communities. I want to ensure that post offices which are viable will be retained.

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