Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Kerr report comes under the remit of the Minister of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, but as far as I am aware it is open for public consultation. I suggest that all Members and the general public make submissions in that area. We are all used to An Post, but the model of business is moving very quickly. We have only to look at our own offices to become aware of the vast amounts of correspondence that come in by e-mail. I notice that queries come in through social media, so the model has to change and probably has to change quickly. Bobby Kerr will not thank me for calling it the Kerr report. That report lays out a roadmap. There are options from An Post. The standard bank account is an excellent way for it to expand and develop. An Post is anxious to move into that area. I also know that postmasters believe that will play a key role.

The Government is developing pilot schemes for microfinance - that is, micro-loans for people on low incomes. Those payments could be made through An Post. We need to be positive about developing a business model that will lead An Post for the next couple of decades. If it remains in its current model it will not survive. Therefore, that model has to grow and expand.

The volume of money that flows from the Department of Social Protection to An Post is €53.8 million. That volume will decrease naturally as people go back to work and there is a drop-off in the payments we make to An Post for paying out dole money on a weekly basis. Those numbers have dropped significantly in the past four years. A net total of more than 100,000 jobs have been created in the economy. That represents 100,000 customers An Post had last year that it does not have this year and 100,000 payments it will not receive.

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