Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government has failed rural Ireland. This latest attack on post offices is unforgivable and I today applaud the good people of rural Ireland who have stood up in community centre meetings and in other fora all around the country in opposition to this most damaging measure. In the counties I represent of Cavan and Monaghan, we are facing nine closures, namely, Corraneary, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, Mountnugent, Swanlinbar and Tullyvin in County Cavan along with Clontibret, Dartrey and Smithborough in County Monaghan. We should make no bones about it, this is totally unacceptable and is unnecessary. The smallest towns and villages in Ireland have seen their economic viability wiped out by the Minister of State's Government. The local bank, butcher, grocer, pub and, in some cases, schools and Garda stations have all disappeared under the Government's watch and under that of its predecessor Administration. The post office was the last hub of both social and economic activity. The local post office was the last stand and this is why we are seeing such resistance. These closures are happening as a result of determined inaction. It is said that these closures are happening because these particular offices are unviable. I put it to the Minister of State that they are unviable because his Government has, by its inaction, made them unviable.

Its programme for Government, in respect of post offices, has reference to an "ePayment Account" and "community banking" but it has sat on its hands. Its rural action plan, published in 2017, stated it would enhance local services "through support for the rural post office network to adapt to a changing business environment". The Cabinet was due to discuss the introduction of a public banking model last January. What was the outcome of these discussions? Officials from the German Sparkasse model offered to act as advisers. I fear the mainstream banks have scuttled this proposal. These are the very same banks that have also abandoned rural Ireland and, by and large, the people of Ireland; the very people who bailed them out when the crash occurred.

I will leave the Minister of State with this. Our most marginalised towns and villages need and deserve support, not closures. The Minister of State neglects them at his peril. I commend the Sinn Féin motion to the House.

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