Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has conceded that it was a decision by the Government and himself not to support the post office network. Other countries do, such as the UK, where a public service obligation is placed on the post office and the state provides appropriate funding to ensure post office services are available close to where people live. The Minister is inflicting on vast tracts of rural communities and on vulnerable people, particularly the elderly who still use the post office, an encumbrance and a requirement on them to travel significant distances to avail of basic post office services. The Minister knows full well that, with a little support, the key services of a post office, namely, social welfare payments and other postal services, could be delivered locally and within the curtilage of other businesses. That could be done for a relatively small investment by the State.

Sadly, through the budget discussions and the negotiations, the Minister and his Department failed to make a case for that and have refused to advance the case. He spoke about enhanced services, which will make the network viable. That is fine and good for the communities which will have, as the Minister sees it, a viable post office. I am concerned about the smaller ones which do not have a viable post office and for which the elimination of the post office service will impact on their viability.

Will the Minister look at it again? Services in smaller villages, close to where people live, could be retained with relatively little State support.

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