Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The matter is currently under consideration by Government. I agree with his basic argument that it is important we maintain a strong post office network throughout the country. It may be the case some post offices just are not viable because of a lack of customers but we want to maintain as many as possible, especially when the redundancy or retirement arrangement comes into place in early 2023.

I very much agree with what the Deputy said on welfare fraud. Sometimes people dismiss welfare fraud. There is at least €40 million worth of social welfare fraud detected every year. The truth is it probably much more than that. It could be twice, three or four times that. The fact people who go into the post office must turn up in person to sign on and present themselves probably saves the taxpayer and the Department of Social Protection tens of millions of euro. That never appears in financial statements but it is very true.

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