Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When I sought this Topical Issue debate today I did not name any particular localities, although I did ring the Minister's office to be helpful, to name the two localities I was to talk about. Interestingly, since then, my constituency colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, has issued a statement on one of them. I am glad of her interest in this topic, but it was not evident until I raised this today on the floor of the Dáil.

I refer to two issues which are similar and different to those raised by my colleagues. One relates to the village of Carlanstown, with a population of almost 700, where a postal agency has closed without any notice at all for the almost 100 people who deal with this post agency for their social welfare payments every week. This is a devastating blow to this village and the people around it who use the postal agency. At a time when we are supposed to protect rural Ireland, we are not succeeding.

The other matter on the post office network is related to the announcement last year, which included the closure of seven other post offices in County Meath, was that some new post offices would open. We were given a list of towns where there would be new post offices. One was in my constituency in Kentstown, County Meath. No post office has opened there. An Post told me that nobody was interested in such a post office. In fact, there is someone who is interested in having it in their premises but the terms and conditions which An Post proposes do not make it worthwhile for anyone to take it on. This village, which is probably one of the largest settlements in the country, and certainly in the county of Meath, without a post office has been promised one by An Post and this Government but this has not been delivered. It calls into question the reality of the announcements last year. The post offices closing was a reality: all seven which were announced were closed and this has torn apart many communities, with their hope gone in Batterstown, Bellewstown, Clonalvy, Drumree, Dunsany, and Tara. I pay tribute to all the postmasters who served in those post offices. When An Post promised new post offices, it was good news but it is so cynical for them not to follow up on this and leave the people of Carlanstown bereft.

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