Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with an apology because when I finish here, I must return to a committee meeting. Apologies to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister.

If this Parliament were a board of directors of an entity called Ireland Inc., we would probably examine the Bill under a number of headings. We would try to ensure we had the right mix and type of services, allowances and pensions. Obviously, we would look at the cost of providing those services. We would look at how streamlined and accessible the services are for those who need them. We would look to ensure the system was robust and trustworthy. We would look to see whether this system had a track record of meeting people's needs.

In addition, we will be examining whether taxpayers' interests are protected in the process.

Post offices and sub-post offices should be viewed as an extremely valuable and trusted network of public service outlets. In that respect, they are more than just post offices and can be easily accessed by all citizens. Most importantly, although it is not always taken into account, the post office has a hard-won reputation and brand that is highly regarded and respected. Yet that network will be at grave risk if the number of customers doing business in such outlets falls. The footfall will determine the network's sustainability and viability.

A recent Grant Thornton report on the future of the post office network found that if the social welfare contract was lost, over 550 post office closures could be expected. Even if the social welfare contract is kept at a reduced rate, well over 400 post offices would be at risk of closure. That is a stark figure, but we have a choice. We can do something to ensure that this trusted brand of accessible services can be sustained, or we can take an alternative decision which will damage the existing network beyond repair.

There is a difference between pension or other social welfare transactions and buying bread, milk or petrol. The difference with post offices is that there is continuity of communications and a trust has been built up. The continuity of staffing is also a factor. The elderly, in particular, like to get to know the people they are dealing with over the counter and it takes years to build up that trust. Thankfully, we do not have a high turnover of staff in post offices or sub-post offices. The same cannot be said for other possible outlets. The quality of communications, confidentiality, trust and the sensitivity associated with pensions and allowances all need to be taken into account.

Post offices have never let people down but the banks have. We should not even consider awarding social welfare contracts to any network other than post offices. Why change something that works and has been working so well for so long?

As a member of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, I was part of a group that drafted a report on the future of our post office network. That report made a number of recommendations as to how the network could remain viable. Given the social benefit of personal contact that exists between post office staff and their customers, the committee recommended that other Government services should also be made available through that network.

One must consider the isolation that exists in society today, even in inner city Dublin not to mention rural areas. It is particularly the case for older people living in rural areas, however. It therefore seems appropriate that Government services should be moved to a facility with which people are comfortable and in which they have confidence. These payments could include motor-tax renewals, hospital charges, business rates, rents and any other Government services. It is one thing to talk about putting new services into post offices but if we, as a board of directors of Ireland Inc., make a decision that will have the unintended - but very clear - consequence of removing social welfare payments from post offices, we may as well say that we will shut down the network.

A number of amendments have been tabled to the Bill by my party colleague, Deputy Ó Snodaigh, and others. They have highlighted the need for this social welfare contract to be maintained by An Post. I would passionately argue that those amendments should be taken on board due to their importance. It does not just concern the quality of services to the public, but also the existing trusted infrastructure involved.

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