Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Taoiseach to address the Government's failure to support our post office network. This is a national issue which is of fundamental importance to all small communities across Ireland, both rural and urban, in our small towns and villages. Under the programme for Government, this Administration committed to doing three things to support the local post office network.

First, it committed to the development of a suite of services by the post office network through a hub, whereby Government services would be available to the community at local post offices, meaning that people would not have to log onto websites or wait endlessly on telephones while they try to get answers. Many people have great difficulty doing that. The provision of passports through post offices is a case in point. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get fundamental services through their post offices. Many other services could be delivered through post offices. All Government applications, including applications for motor tax and driving licences, could be processed through post offices. Foreign exchange is another of the many services that could be decentralised and devolved to enable them to be provided through post offices.

The Government also committed to advancing a community-based banking system through our post offices. We do not have to invent the wheel in this regard. Examples of very successful community-based post offices include Kiwibank in New Zealand and Sparkasse in Germany. Post offices in Japan supply banking services locally.

The third commitment in this area within the programme for Government involves supporting the current contract for social welfare payments. This is absolutely vital for the survival of our post office network. I ask the Taoiseach to tell us what proposals have been advanced in this regard. By failing to support the maintenance and development of our post office network, we are allowing another national asset to disappear. Commercial banks have abandoned our towns and villages. Does the Government intend to abandon our post offices as well? Post offices can flourish and contribute to the social fabric of urban and rural communities if they are allowed to do so. The loss of the sole post office in a local community leads to the ultimate unravelling of the social fabric of such communities. There are villages without a post office, a doctor, a shop, a pub, a school or any commercial or social activity. Such communities are shells of their former selves. Is this the legacy the Government wishes to leave? Rural Ireland wants to move in modern times. It must adapt to modern technology, but that does not mean it should be killed off by new technology. Rural Ireland is looking for innovative support that allows it to contribute to Irish society in an imaginative and cost-effective way. Will the Taoiseach instruct Government Departments to decentralise services to post office networks and develop a community-based post office bank system to meet the needs of local communities?

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