Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. It is good to have an opportunity to discuss this issue in the Chamber as Deputies may not table parliamentary questions on individual post offices. I have listened to the views of people attending public meetings in the west, a region the Minister knows well. People are tired of An Post's argument that it is not its policy to close down post offices and want instead to hear that it is the company's policy to keep post offices open.

The Minister addressed the issue of direct debits and alternative means of making payments. This issue needs to be reviewed and I hope the Minister will do so. I wrote to him recently indicating that a constituent of mine who tried to pay an ESB at her local post office, as her late mother had done for many years, was treated as a new customer and asked to pay a deposit of €300 if she wished to pay directly at the post office. Those who pay by direct debit, however, do not incur an additional charge. This type of approach suggests An Post would be pleased if people avoided visiting post offices in person. I brought this matter to the attention of the Commission for Communications Regulation on 5 June and have not yet received a reply, although I understand the commission is considering the issue. There is, however, no reason to change existing arrangements, for example, it should be possible to transfer an ESB bill from a mother to her daughter. I ask the Minister to examine this issue.

New uses and types of business must be considered for post offices.

I am confident that, if given the opportunity, post offices will develop new business and will be a viable alternative, particularly for those in rural areas.

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