Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If the Department of Social Protection is actually writing letters that will undermine the potential of the post office network to continue to be sustainable, then there is a serious lack of joined-up thinking in the Government. The Minister claims he is in favour of keeping post offices while the Department of Social Protection sends out letters that will undermine them.

I accept most of the damage was done by the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and that the Minister is not responsible for all closures. However, they have not stopped on his watch which is a concern for people. Will the Minister consider amending the current structure and putting in place a policy and legislation which recognises the post office network is a national asset? This will give the Government a bit more hands-on control over what An Post does, rather than saying all this is an operational matter for the company. If it remains an operational matter for An Post, I believe it is determined to close as many rural post offices as possible because there is no money in it. The Government must recognise the social benefit of post offices and prevent An Post from closing them.

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