Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste does not seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation for people in rural Ireland. He should not stand up here and talk about what the Government is doing for people with cataract operations. For God's sake, let him stop. It is scandalous beyond belief to see the report yesterday of someone five years waiting. The Government let him go blind rather than doing something.

Ballydehob has one of the greatest community spirits in Ireland, safeguarded by one of the finest community gardaí in the country. There is a huge community spirit. Ballydehob is, as I have always called, the festival capital of Ireland. Almost every weekend, there is a festival. They do work, they work hard but they need their post office, and so do the people of Schull and Goleen, and through west Cork. Look at Ballineen post office, with the worry of closure hanging over the community for months as the Government stands idly by and lets it happen.

I call on the Tánaiste today to stand up before the people of this country and say that enough is enough and the Government will co-operate with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, to speed up saving the post office network. The Government must get the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to sit down immediately to work with Deputy Naughten to have motor tax paid through the post offices. This will help rural communities. The Government must start putting rural community banking into post offices, cut out the 15 km rule between post offices and apply that in the cities where there is a proper transport service for people who can travel. They must ensure that the post office will be a one-stop shop for all Government services. This will let the people of Ballydehob and beyond see the Government TDs are not crying crocodile tears for the post office service.

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