Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a serious issue. The post office sector is undergoing very considerable change both at national and international level, with dramatic changes in electronic communications and online transactions having a heavy impact on the volumes of mail and other service offerings. An Post is a commercial State body and decisions relating to the size and distribution of the network are a matter for the board of management. The Government recently lifted the cap in respect of the price of stamps because of the urgency of this matter from a financial perspective. The Government is committed to supporting the sustainability of the post office network as set out in the programme for Government. As there was such a volume of material for the Cabinet this morning, the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, was not in a position to present his report; the Kerr report was commissioned by the Government in respect of the post office network.

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