Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All of those services will have to fit into the new An Post premises in Connolly Street in Mountmellick. Sinn Féin supports the modernisation of the network and the provision of additional services through the post office network. Sinn Féin has put forward various proposals for that over the past ten or 15 years and supported the general thrust of that notion. There is no argument there. However, the modernisation that must happen in the building in Connolly Street is similar to that which would have been required in An Post's former premises in the town square. The Minister mentioned the parcel service which is growing at the same time as the mail business is decreasing. I recognise that as a commercial reality but there was sufficient space in the building in the town square to do that. That building remains available and there is another one in the town square that is also available.

Sinn Féin also supported co-location of post offices in smaller towns and villages to ensure they were viable and retained in the commercial hearts of villages and towns. There is no argument other than that new services should be available and Sinn Féin supports that fully.

The Minister is saying he cannot issue a policy directive but this is a policy issue. I ask the Minister at least to discuss it with the chief executive officer of An Post, Mr. David McRedmond. This is a policy issue which is impacting negatively on Government policy, spatial strategies and the policies of local government. It is also impacting the local town development plan and the county development plan in County Laois.

See this speech in context