Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

6:10 pm

Photo of Bobby AylwardBobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in implementing the recommendations of two reports (details supplied) on the future and reform of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29759/17]

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Aylward has given permission to Deputy Niamh Smyth to introduce Question No. 62, which is in his name. Is it that agreed? Agreed.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I would like the Minister to set out the progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations of two reports on the future and reform of the post office network and to make a statement on the same issue.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, to ensure that the company is fully compliant with the code of practice and governance of State bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are matters for the board and management of An Post. As Minister, I do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters. Consequently, measures to maintain, enhance and diversify the post office network are matters for An Post. The Post Office Network Business Development Group was established at the end of 2014 by the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to explore the potential for commercial and additional Government services which could be transacted through the post office network. I was one of the five Members of the House who made a submission to that group at the time. Following the publication of the final report of this group in January 2016, two working groups were established to make progress with the recommendations of the report, namely, the network renewal implementation group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, and the post office hub working group, chaired by the then Minister of State, Deputy Ring.

On foot of a reconfiguration of Government Departments in July of last year, responsibility for the post office network transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. When the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs published the final report of the post office hub working group in March of this year, it outlined that it is pursuing the possible opportunities for the network to provide services such as community banking and motor tax renewal. Arrangements are in hand to reassign responsibility for the post office network to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in light of its overall responsibility for An Post. The recommendations of the post office hub working group will continue to be finalised between both Departments. I understand that the report of the network renewal implementation group, which was undertaken by Mr. Bobby Kerr on behalf of An Post, is under consideration by An Post. The policy of the Government is that An Post should remain a strong and viable company that is in a position to provide a high-quality nationwide postal service and to maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community.

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I do not think that is the first time the Minister has given that reply today.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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It might be the last.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister knows, I represent the very rural constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. The post office is an integral part of the cultural and social fabric of the constituency. I would like to give the Minister a feel for the concerns of people in this regard. Over 150 people attended a recent public meeting in the small town of Shercock, County Cavan, which is near the border with County Monaghan. It is of the utmost importance to see additional services like community banking being provided in our post offices so that they become more viable and sustainable. It was very interesting to see the demographic attending the public meeting I have mentioned. We have to make sure our post offices function for our young people as well as for older people in rural communities and in society in general. I wonder how the Minister intends to address that. The postmasters and postmistresses are very anxious because they feel they are contending with unfair competition from private courier services. They want to be able to deliver the same type of efficient services through post offices, but they are restricted from doing so. Their hands are tied behind their backs. Does the Minister have any proposals? If our post offices are to survive and to be able to deliver these services, they must have broadband, which we discussed earlier.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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If the Deputy is speaking to her colleague, Deputy Dooley, after Question Time, she might tell him that within the next 77 weeks, approximately 97% of all post offices in this country will have direct access to high-speed broadband. We can look at the options for the approximately 30 post offices that will not have such access. I am sure Deputy Dooley will be delighted to hear that. I know there is public concern in this regard. People see digital as a threat to the post office network. I see it as an enabler. It is one way we can bring business into our post office network. Like Deputy Niamh Smyth, I am aware that young people do not go into post offices as often as older people. Younger people go into the post office at Christmas to buy stamps and in the summer to use foreign exchange or passport facilities. What can we do to encourage people to use the post office more frequently? Opportunities in areas like parcel services are available to post offices that have access to broadband. I disagree with the Deputy in so far as I think there is an opportunity to provide a very cost-effective service. It does not cost An Post anything extra to send a parcel from the GPO in Dublin to Caherciveen because it has a fleet of vans that are already providing services across the country under the universal service obligation.

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Both post offices and broadband fall under the Minister's remit. It is very difficult for the post offices we are trying to keep in local areas to survive if they do not have a basic service like broadband. I agree with what the Minister said about bringing in younger people and providing extra services. Something that happened in my constituency today provided another example of why broadband is needed. Flair Showers Limited, which has the potential to employ 40 people in the east Cavan area, has had to move its small factory to Kingscourt because it cannot access broadband in Bailieborough. While that is wonderful for Kingscourt and for the county, the company had an established presence with a building and everything else in place in Bailieborough but it was not able to access broadband. We are going to lose jobs out of the town as a result. I have tabled a separate parliamentary question on this matter today and I look forward to the Minister's response. I want to know whether something can be done to enable small factories, companies and post offices to stay in local areas. It is dreadful to see them having to leave because they cannot get something as basic as broadband. I think not having broadband is like not having electricity.

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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That is why I am determined to ensure that we continue to roll out high-speed real-fibre broadband across this country. At present, we are passing one door every minute of every working day. My intention is to continue that momentum until every single premises in Ireland enjoys access to this facility. I encourage Deputy Niamh Smyth to make direct contact with the local broadband officer in her local authority to see whether options exist in the specific case she mentioned. I encourage people to look at the options that are available. I mentioned an example in response to Deputy Clare Daly a couple of minutes ago. We need to build on the strengths of An Post and its post office network. I refer, for example, to its brand recognition and to the trust it enjoys among the public. An Post has a nationwide network of post offices across the country. Its vans pass every door in this country five days a week. It is frustrating that these advantages have not been exploited in the past. In fairness to the chief executive, David McRedmond, I think he understands that opportunities exist. A pilot project that is taking place down the road from the Acting Chairman's locality is looking at using An Post vans to bring other services out into rural areas.