Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend Teachta Stanley on tabling this motion. The closure of Garda stations, rural schools and transport systems have torn the heart out of rural communities. Is ionsaí é seo ar dhaoine atá ag brath ar sheirbhísí poiblí.

The proposed closure of 159 post offices, including Annagassan post office in County Louth, makes this worse. In Annagassan, the local post office provides a vital social hub for local people, particularly older citizens. It is a vital public service and the Government has broken the social contract it made with these citizens.

Local services should be enhanced not destroyed. Additional services could and should be delivered to all post offices as the 2016 Kerr report outlined, such as extended financial services, Government services and motor taxes. This would keep jobs and services in rural areas. That is, of course, if the Government is really committed to doing this. Previous Governments have shut down the post office network with Fianna Fáil closing 732 of them. It can stop the Government which it supports from closing any more. The Government must keep to its commitment regarding post offices contained in the programme for Government.

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