Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Regional Group of Independents and commend the Sinn Féin amendment as well. The postal service is an essential national and public service. Something we are looking at in the context of community development is societal value. We cannot look only at the financial value of everything. We must look at societal value and what is contributed to our communities.

Unfortunately, the post office network has been crippled by closures and cutbacks. This is not just a rural problem; it also affects many urban areas. In my constituency of Dublin West, we have a population of more than 110,000 people, yet we have only four post offices. We have seen massive growth and development over the past 20 years with new areas of growth such as Tyrrelstown, Hollywoodrath, Ongar and Pelletstown. We have not seen a single post office established in those areas, and in the past ten or 15 years, I think, we have lost one post office in the Corduff community in Blanchardstown. I have seen how a post office can regenerate a local community. In my own area of Mountview in Clonsilla, the post office has relocated to the local supermarket. This relocation, along with other improvements, has made a massive difference and has provided a new focal point for our community and especially for our senior citizens.

Sinn Féin fully supports the call of the Irish Postmasters Union for a public service obligation. It is something we have been advocating for over a decade. Simply expressing concern each time this issue is raised is not good enough from the Government. We must follow up this commitment with action.

Without urgent action we will see the demise of the local post office not only in rural areas but in urban areas. We cannot overemphasise the importance of the post office's societal value. That needs to be considered by the Government. I commend the motion and the amendment in our party's name.

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