Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The post office network is vital infrastructure for many in rural and regional communities. Almost 950 post offices are operational throughout Ireland but unfortunately this number is decreasing. The sector has seen significant cuts in recent years with the closure of hundreds of post offices, most of which were located in small rural communities. County Wexford has 52 post offices but unfortunately this number is getting smaller. They serve all types of communities, from the larger ones in our main towns such as Bunclody, Gorey, Enniscorthy, Wexford and New Ross to small family-run outlets in small villages such as Rosslare, Ramsgrange, Fethard-on-Sea, Wellingtonbridge, Foulksmills and Campile. Post offices provide vital services to hundreds of communities but are under further threat at the moment due to Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Government. Transactions within the post office network are down by 25%.

This motion calls on Dáil Éireann to recognise the significant challenges facing the post office network. I have described the network as being under threat and with the wrong action, that threat can become a weakness but with the right action, it can be turned into an opportunity or a strength. The right action is for the Government to ensure the sustainability of the network through a PSO. This may involve emergency investment but more importantly, it requires an expansion of the role of the post office to give the network the opportunity to sustain itself.

It is also important to recognise the knock-on benefits of post offices for local communities. The Grant Thornton report argues that the post office network remains a highly valuable national asset that contributes far more to the economy than the cost of the PSO. It estimates that the protection and expansion of the network would result in a social value for Ireland of between €344 million and €776 million. This social value can be seen when people travel to their local post office to do something and then decide to call into another local business while there, whether that be a butcher's shop, bakery, café, clothes or shoe shop or a sports shop. Post offices help to bring economic activity to their areas and they need a PSO to get them back on track and ensure their survival. They also need opportunities to develop by providing as many useful services for people in local communities as possible. They need to be seen as the go-to venue for people to engage with State services.

The motion calls on the Government to designate the post office network as the offline gateway of choice for citizens. Many people find online services totally alien and they need an alternative. Every form that needs to be completed such as driver licence or passport applications should be available as a matter of course in every post office. In all cases, the postmistress or postmaster is there to help people to complete these forms. The motion also calls on the Government to commence the provision of offline Government services with the option of processing motor tax renewals through the post office network. Many rural residents would need to drive for miles to the nearest motor tax office. Let us save the carbon by allowing people to drive the few miles to their local post office instead. This motion recognises the existing post office network as a rural economic lifeline and a locus for the future development of financial services outside of the existing bank framework. The post office network is ideally placed to provide an alternative in this market. I hope Deputies on all sides of the House will support this motion to protect and future-proof our post office network.

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