Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this important and timely motion. I strongly exhort the Government to put structures in place that will ensure the long-term viability of the post office network. I have been involved in community development and politics for more than 30 years. At no time in that 30 years has the closure of post offices and campaigns to save them been off the agenda. Sometimes these campaigns succeeded, sometimes they did not, and other times the threat of closure arose again a few years later despite the earlier reprieve. That is why we need to ensure post offices can remain viable and that opportunities for further and enhanced provision of services are put in place. Viability is the key issue and the sticking plaster solution of keeping the odd post office branch open for a few years is simply not working and will not work in the long term. I do not need to emphasise the value of the post office network from an economic and social perspective, but I acknowledge that when we use the word "lifeline" to describe a post office, in many cases it is not an exaggeration.

Furthermore, with the current move to working from home and people moving to towns, villages and rural areas across the country, the onus is on the Government to ensure the availability of local services. The IPU, has produced an excellent report undertaken by Grant Thornton. It is crystal clear that in 2021 there will be a €17 million shortfall in revenue. To break it down, each post office across the State will have losses of approximately €19,000 per annum. This shows the extreme urgency of the situation and, as I said earlier, the timeliness of this motion. The IPU is requesting that An Post be the sole provider of the bank accounts required to facilitate the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection strategy to move to e-payments. It also asks that all Departments channel business through the post office, including motor tax, driver's licences, etc.

We are sometimes told that the EU public procurement directive will not allow any interference in the tendering process but governments can and must use the flexibility contained within that directive to help ensure both the social and economic value systems are embedded in the tender process.

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