Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that Deputy Naughten supported the Kerr report prior to becoming Minister but I have not heard him offer much support for that report since taking office. He is now overlaying the NewEra agency and we have had the McKinsey review. We need decisions and the Minister knows what those decisions involve. We need to decide how many post offices we want and how widespread the network will be. If we believe in that then we, as part of the Legislature, must be in a position to provide appropriate funding from the central Exchequer to support that service delivery. We can then look to the model of services that will give a business model that will reduce the extent to which the State will have support the network. The Minister knows full well that key decisions have to be taken. How many post offices are needed? The Minister must be upfront with the people. If post offices are to close, the Minister must identify them and let people know. If post offices are to be preserved and protected, the Minister must identify them, get behind them and make them viable enterprises. In some cases, where there is a necessity, State funding should be provided so that the service can be delivered.

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