Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to raise this issue on the floor of the Dáil and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it.

The future of the An Post network - both the post office network and the mail distribution network - has never been more uncertain. I will discuss the Athlone mail distribution centre in particular. It is regrettable that the responsible Minister is not present to answer questions, given the fear among staff in Athlone. I have met some of them and spoken with many more. The Athlone mail centre is ideally located in the heart of the midlands. It has excellent transport links to all parts of the country and is located in the same business park as DPD Ireland, which recently doubled its premises in size to form its national hub. That shows how ideally located the area is. The mail centre's 183 staff are extremely efficient, having won many awards for their work. Not only that, but they have been flexible. In the face of decreasing volumes of mail in recent years, they have collaborated to achieve significant staff savings.

I understand that consultants have been employed to examine the future of the mail distribution network.

The only centre those consultants have not visited is the mail centre in Athlone. I do not think that is fair or right. At the very minimum, I want to receive a guarantee today that those consultants will engage with the management and the unions representing the workers in Athlone's mail distribution unit.

Second, in regard to the An Post network, who is the responsible Minister? It was the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, but, seemingly, he now does not want it and it is going back to the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten. Is that true and, if so, when will the Minister take responsibility? Does the Government agree with the sentiments expressed by the CEO of An Post in regard to the number of closures needed? Does the Government feel the An Post network is an asset and, if so, is it going to invest in it? The Irish Postmasters' Union signed up to the Bobby Kerr report under the last Government. Its members are wondering when the recommendations of that report will be implemented, because we should be implementing them now, not analysing and discussing a new report.

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