Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

All Members are interested in protecting post offices. Since 2006 in Wexford alone, ten post offices have closed, namely Tomhaggard, Pallas, Crossabeg, Ballymurn, Ballyhoe, Gusserane, Ballycarney, Castledockrell, Duncormick, Ballymitty and Rathnure. That is devastating for a county which has 24% unemployment, double the national suicide rate and is in the top five for illiteracy rates and teenage pregnancies. I know this is not all down to the closure of post offices but it adds to the problem. There is a serious devastation of rural areas in Wexford and other parts of the country.

The Minister can examine the different initiatives for the post office. However, when he claims it is an operational matter for An Post, he is passing responsibility. The Government must be proactive and decide that no more post offices will close. It should even examine re-opening some of them. It may not be financially attractive in many cases but the social benefit has to be considered, not ignored.

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