Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I thank the Minister for his reply, I am disappointed with it. The State has made a major cash injection in An Post that is being used to cause damage to other Government policy, which was supposed to put the heart back into commercial town centres. There are a number of empty and occupied premises around Mountmellick, within 100 yd. of the existing post office, that would facilitate co-location. Have they been approached?

I have a copy of a letter from the local business association and Tidy Towns. They have asked how, in light of the many initiatives and reports funded by public money to breathe life into town centres, the Government can explain the decision as anything other than running contrary to those policies. They understand the matter. The Mountmellick local area plan states one of its strategic aims is to "[i]mprove the quality, vitality and vibrancy of the Town Centre." It goes on to state its policy is to "[e]ncourage and facilitate the reuse and regeneration of derelict and vacant sites" in the town. The decision, however, goes completely against the town plan and Government policy. I understand that the Minister does not want to get into the nitty-gritty but this is a policy direction issue for the Government. The Minister, on behalf of the taxpayer and the public, is the sole shareholder. The public signed a petition three years ago to recommend that the post office should not be removed from the town centre. Will the Minister give policy direction to An Post on this matter? We cannot let this be simply an executive matter for An Post to move the post office on a whim.

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