Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make some simple suggestions. An Post services could be extended to allow post offices to act as a central office for State payments and charges. They could deal with the processing of motor tax, local authority and hospital charges and provide banking services. We could ensure the post office would become a hub for shared community State services, as well as an office providing access to broadband and printing facilities. The Department of Social Protection contract could be extended.

It has been many months since the formation of the Government, yet there has been little movement on outlining a plan to safeguard the future of the An Post network. The Government's responsibility for post offices and future network renewal resides with two Departments and three Ministers. The Government received the Bobby Kerr report which outlined a number of practical solutions to address the problems in An Post, but almost one year on, there has been no action. Post offices are an important strategic State asset and play an invaluable role as the centre point of community and commercial activity in urban and rural Ireland. They comprise the largest retail network in the country, with over 1,100 post offices employing almost 3,000 people. The Minister does not need me to emphasise further the importance of the integrity of the network for rural Ireland.

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