Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Nevertheless, I seek a full debate on this issue as opposed to an Adjournment debate. A former chairman of An Post, Senator Quinn, is a Member of this House, as is a former Minister with responsibility in this area. I am a former Minister of State at the Department of Post and Telegraphs. The presence of Members with such experience will facilitate a detailed debate on what is a serious issue for the network of sub-post offices. Significant numbers of them have closed in my area in recent years and more will follow.

Such closures undermine rural communities but they can be averted if we have the right policies in place. By transferring money by electronic means via the banks, the Department of Social and Family Affairs is taking a considerable amount of work from the local post offices. Such business ensured they heretofore remained viable.