Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been engaging with the Irish Postmasters' Union. I have been told that by the personnel of the union and I know they appreciate that. There is one issue that should be addressed. Post offices are, in reality, small businesses. They, like every other enterprise in the country, have faced increased costs in recent years. Worthwhile and necessary initiatives were undertaken by the Government to assist small businesses and households with cost-of-living pressures and I would sincerely hope the post office network would be included in any such measures.

I mentioned AIB and Bank of Ireland. Substantial banking facilities are available for those banks through the post office network. In my region of the country, we lost Ulster Bank, which had a huge presence in our area over many decades. Its withdrawal was a considerable loss to many of the communities I have the privilege of representing. Thankfully, Permanent TSB took up some of those particular offices and branches and nowadays has a good network. I understand that, at present, Permanent TSB banking services are not available through the post office network. Perhaps the Minister's Department could engage with Permanent TSB to see if it could use the post office network in towns where it does not have a presence. We have otherwise only AIB and the Bank of Ireland. I am thankful we have Permanent TSB today. I know that, in my county, we welcome its increased presence as a result of the closure of Ulster Bank, whose services our communities had enjoyed for well over a century. Ulster Bank was a considerable loss to our communities. Permanent TSB might be an issue for the Department to consider. I welcome the fact that Permanent TSB has expanded its range of services and its branch network throughout the country.

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