Dáil debates

Wednesday, 7 July 2021

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members]

 

10:37 am

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

(a)To insert the following after “in line with the Cabinet decision in 2017;”: “notes the findings and recommendations contained in the Grant Thornton report entitled ‘Review of the economic contribution and financial sustainability of the Irish Post Office Network’, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union, which recognises the contribution of the post office network, the huge challenges facing the sector and includes a recommendation to introduce a Public Service Obligation (PSO) of approximately €17 million per annum; and”; and

(b)To insert the following after “financial services outside of the existing banking framework”: “— implement proposals contained in the Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group (Kerr Report) published in 2016; and

— introduce a PSO to guarantee the current post office network and help prevent further closures, to ensure people have continued access to the important services post offices provide.”

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and thank the Regional Group for tabling it. Sinn Féin has always been vocal in its support for protecting our post office network. Post offices are crucial services in our towns and villages and are especially important in rural Ireland, where they provide essential services and serve as a meeting point for local people. Therefore, we fully support this motion and have also tabled an amendment highlighting the requirement for a PSO to be introduced. A number of the motion's sponsors made reference to that as well. This is not a new idea. Indeed, the need for a PSO has been spoken about for years. One of the central recommendations of the Grant Thornton report was the introduction of a PSO to secure the future of the network and allow post offices to continue providing their excellent and important services. Some €17 million per annum was suggested as an appropriate amount. While I welcome the €8.5 million that has been agreed between the Irish Postmasters' Union, IPU, and An Post, it is half the amount deemed necessary in the Grant Thornton report and is intended to cover a protracted period. I am concerned that it is not enough and I am also concerned, having heard from the Minister of State, about the Government 's commitment to directly intervene and provide State funding to support the network.

When Sinn Féin tabled a motion on the future of post offices in the previous Dáil, Fianna Fáil submitted an amendment calling for a PSO to be introduced. Now, more than a year into a Fianna Fáil-led Government, it still has not introduced one and we are still waiting and kicking the can down the road to a questionable future for the security of the network. Postmasters are frustrated from hearing Government representatives talking about the benefits and importance of our post office system but doing little to support it. This frustration is justified. We were here in October debating this very issue and the Government has done little since. The Government needs to stop prevaricating on this issue and introduce a PSO. I hope other Deputies will support our amendment. It will send a clear message that we need more than warm words from the Government; we need real action now. The Grant Thornton report also set out the challenges faced by the post office network and highlighted the significant value and contribution it makes to our economy and society. It showed that the estimated social value of the network stands between €334 million and €776 million per annum.

However, the real value of the helpful and friendly service, the local knowledge and the convenience of post offices is immeasurable, particularly for older people. In government, Sinn Féin will not just provide a PSO to shore up our network but will work with An Post, postmasters and unions to bolster the services post offices can offer and secure the future of the service. There is a list of State services that should be considered for provision through the post office network. This could include motor tax, the public services card, payment of fines, payment of tax, property registration documents, voter registration, the certification of official documentation and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. We are not suggesting removing these services from existing offices or agencies but post offices could provide another avenue for people to access to more State services, on a more local basis.

An Post’s green hub is a great recent addition in that regard. To meet our climate targets, we will need to transition to cleaner heating and transport options and the post office can act as a one-stop shop for people accessing information and grants in this area. It can be daunting for people when trying to find information about retrofitting, solar panels and the grants that are available, or might be in the future, and having a trusted local post office providing this information will be invaluable.

I know very well from my constituency the impact the loss of a post office can have on a community. My local post office in Tara was one of the more than 100 post offices closed in 2018. Local people, particularly older people, say to me that it has not been the same since the closure of that post office. The outpouring of goodwill and support for the post office network has been positive. I encourage the Minister of State to support the motion and the Sinn Féin amendment and to address the needs of the post office network to put it on a secure and sound footing into the future.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.