Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Harty has raised an issue that has gone on for many years. While the post office network has been extensively reduced in the past ten or 15 years, it is still an important entity. An Post is conscious of the impact and the potential loss to many places in rural Ireland of the closure of post offices. Clearly, many of the post office systems in large cities and smaller towns in rural areas have suffered because of changes in communications and the way business is conducted. The previous Government conducted and supervised Bobby Kerr's investigation into the remit, range and potential of post offices. The Government accepted the Kerr report and decided to implement a basic bank account system for post offices. While this would not save post offices or protect their futures, it would be of assistance in that regard. I have to say the Government has always been in favour of the post office system and of attempts to provide new business for post offices, postmasters and postmistresses. It is not that easy in some cases where, for one reason or another, the ability to avail of all the modern methods of communication and technology does not exist.

The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, who is dealing with this matter, has set up a group to look at options that might be available to post offices in the future. This group, which involves postmasters and postmistresses, has met twice and quite a number of extra suggestions beyond the Kerr report have been produced at its meetings. The Minister of State will report its findings as soon as possible. Clearly, the post office network has been an integral part of rural Ireland for many years. I notice that, with the advantage and use of the Internet, post office depots have become receiving places for huge quantities of goods coming in from abroad after being bought online. Many of them no longer deal with the traditional way of business in post offices.

Government is intent on maintaining the post office network, where at all possible. Having said that, I recall one case in the west recently where a post office closed that had been there for 70 years. When An Post inquired in the local area whether anyone else was interested in taking on the facility, there was no positive response from anyone. The situation is changing. We would like to protect, in whatever way we can, the system as it currently stands.

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