Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Minister, I am responsible for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post. I am acutely conscious of the value placed by communities in both urban and rural areas on services provided by post offices and I am concerned to ensure the future needs of those communities continue to be met.

As part of its strategy for modernising the post office network, An Post has established a dedicated business unit within An Post, An Post retail. An Post's recently announced vision for the post office network centres around the availability of new services in a modernised, revitalised network. In fact, the company has announced an investment plan of €50 million in the post office network throughout the country, which is equivalent to €45,000 per post office. Such services will include a better range of Government services, financial services and e-commerce services for shoppers and small businesses. The announcement by An Post is supported by an agreement reached with the Irish Postmasters Union, IPU, executive following three months of intensive negotiations, chaired by Mr. Turlough O'Donnell, which has subsequently been endorsed by 80% of the IPU membership.

The agreement represents a positive first step in reinvigorating our national post office network and making it a viable, sustainable, modern and vibrant network for the future, capable of adapting to the changing environment in which it operates by providing a service that meets the needs of communities across the country, particularly in rural areas and particularly in light of the fact the current contract dates back to 1907.

We are already seeing a number of important new business initiatives being progressed. In February, a pilot e-local service was launched by An Post in three districts, namely, Bantry, Mullingar and Ennis. This service combines the strengths of online commerce with that of An Post's mail network for the benefit of local business. It gives local business an edge over national and international online operators by connecting retailers with their customers, both online and in person, and provides an overnight delivery service. A key feature of the eLocal.ieservice is that An Post gives each retailer an online presence, displaying their goods and services, and enabling online orders.

As part of its consideration of the financial position of An Post, the Government agreed that further opportunities for Government business through the post office network, particularly the payment of motor tax, should be explored.

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