Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The key concern is that while there is movement, the process could be dragged out, particularly when groups have to meet and draft reports. I take on board that the Government does not own the vast majority of rural post offices. It is important that the report and proposals of the implementation group are refined and agreed and then implemented as soon as possible along with the recommendations from the post office hub working group. It is essential that this be done quickly. There is a major opportunity because of the withdrawal of banks from rural areas. They have pulled out of small towns and even some sizeable towns in provincial areas. The banks are not providing face-to-face services, which is driving small business people crazy, not to mind creating difficulties for the elderly and people with disabilities, but this provides an opportunity. That gap needs to be filled and the post office network is ideally placed to do that and provide a community banking sector.

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