Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy White, to the Chamber. It is good have the opportunity to discuss in the short term the question of the closure of a post office in a particular area and, in the macro sense, to look at the broad policy issues relating to the future of our post office service.

As we all know, post offices have played a vital role in the quality of life in urban and rural areas. They are an integral part of the community. Thankfully, they are still in operation throughout Ireland.

The programme for Government includes a clear statement to the effect that the post office network will be maintained and the Government would seek to enhance the service and add new uses and new areas of business. Of course, as a semi-State company An Post can conduct its own business and look for contracts from the public and private sectors. All this, along with State support, has resulted in only a relatively small number of closures since the Government came to office compared with the large number closed under the previous Administration - at least seven or eight times the figure under the current Administration. I would be delighted if the Minister would provide me with the up-to-date figures on what has been closed during the four and half years we have been in government as well as what was closed in a similar period under the previous Administration.

The particular issue we are addressing is the Cabra post office on Fassaugh Road, Dublin. Tonight, the postmaster will hold a public meeting. He has put up posters throughout the Cabra area calling on people to come along and campaign against the closure of his post office.

I am not aware that the post office will be closed or whether there are any plans to close it, but I would like to hear from the Minister its exact status and whether people have any cause for concern, given that the postmaster, in the public notices he has put up the length and breadth of Cabra, has clearly indicated there is such cause. What proposals, if any, are in place for the closure of post offices between now and spring 2016 when the election is due?

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