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

I will make a number of points. I agree wholeheartedly with Deputy Kelleher; one can count on one hand the number of post offices that have closed since I was appointed Minister; and 18 months ago, the chief executive of An Post came into my office to tell me that within 30 weeks the company would run out of cash and would not have money to pay salaries. We cannot have post offices unless we have a viable company, so this was my first priority. We have now put in place a viable structure. My second priority is to ensure we get Government services in. It is my intention within the next couple of weeks to bring a memorandum, with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to the Government to look at how we can put new Government services through the post office network. We are already piloting this. The Minister, Deputy Ring, has given me €80,000, through the post office network, to look at the digital assist pilot. It is not just about Government services. Take websites such as bonkers.ie and switcher.iethrough which people can get savings of up to €300 on their electricity bills. Offline customers cannot avail of this. It should be available to them through the post office network because they are the most vulnerable customers. They are using the post office network currently and we should be able to use the local digital avenue through the offline desk in the post office to ensure everyone can exploit the digital economy.

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