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

An Post is altering its retail network to try to meet the changing needs of communities right across this country and reflect shopping patterns. The Deputy is correct in that there are communities where there are other retailers willing to operate the service and I accept that is an issue. That is the reason An Post has put out a call to those retailers to the effect that it is prepared to engage with them. As I said at a meeting of the Oireachtas committee, it is prepared to engage with them and look at the PostPoint service.

As the Deputy will be aware, the chief executive of An Post has said he is examining the potential of expanding the services that are available through PostPoint. There is also the matter of the smart account that is available through An Post to those individuals. There are a number of opportunities available as well as the potential to have the post office franchise operated from local retailers. An Post is willing to engage with retailers across communities where the postmasters decide to take the package. I actively encourage retailers to engage with An Post in that regard. There is a commitment from An Post that there is an appeals mechanism in place if the retailer is not satisfied with the engagement he or she receives from the company.

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