Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Stanton. An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State's postal service and the post office network. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network, as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. In line with this commitment, my Department is providing €10 million funding per annum over a three-year fixed term from 2023 to 2025 to An Post. This funding is being disbursed across the post office network, with An Post being responsible for operational detail.

The network of almost 900 post offices comprises company offices and contractor post offices. All contractor post offices are benefiting from the funding, with the objective of securing the stability of the network during the three-year funding period. There has been over €13.8 million claimed by An Post for the period 2023 to the end of May this year for that network. The provision of funding to postmasters contributes towards ensuring both that the public have access to important socially valuable services across the post office network, and that the network is of sufficient scale right across the country. The funding provides time and space for An Post to accelerate the transformation and commercialisation of the network to ensure a relevant, commercially viable network delivering more services to citizens and small businesses. Decisions relating to the network, including actively seeking new business and exploring opportunities to develop new or enhanced product lines, are a matter for An Post directly.

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