Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government does not own the post offices. The network is operated by An Post and there are 1,131 post offices nationwide, 51 of which are operated by An Post. The remainder are run under contract to the company. The two working groups I mentioned are working to try to do exactly what the Deputies want. They are examining ways and means to sustain as many post offices as possible. The Government will not close post offices because it does not have control of them. That is up to An Post. Mr. Kerr has a report, which is almost concluded. He will make recommendations to An Post, which will then go to Government and the Government will then have to make decisions. Deputy Stanley is correct that there are a number of options on the table but it is like any process. I do not like some of the options that An Post and the IPU have and they do not like some of the options that I have put on the table for them. The negotiations are over and we are drafting a report and seeing whether we can reach agreement between An Post, the post offices and the Government. When we get the report, I intend to go to Government to see what we can do to help rural post offices to deliver other services, including motor tax and banking services. We are trying to do whatever we can. I am on the same side as the Deputies. I have commissioned a report and I am trying to do the best I can to keep as many as possible open.

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