Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have studied this back and forth. There has been much talk about giving State business to An Post. The driver licence system should have been given to An Post and the terms of reference for the tendering should have been changed to ensure it did go to An Post. What should emerge from the whole-of-government report is that every State service should be geared towards An Post. Of the 17 post offices the Minister mentioned that have closed, I believe three of them closed in north Cork over the past six or eight months. We must fundamentally change how An Post is set up and governed. We might talk about putting Government services in An Post or making it a special office for Government services but unless we compel the State company, An Post, to maintain the services deep in the rural communities, that 65% of post offices will dwindle further over the years.

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