Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I believe that most Members have received over the last few weeks telephone calls and other correspondence from very concerned postmasters and postmistresses, particularly in my own part of the country, where predominantly rural post offices operate. Their main concern is that there is a real threat to the withdrawal of business from post offices, as a result of the Government's policy on e-commerce. I appreciate that there are two sides to this story but it is incumbent on the Government to enter into discussions with An Post about the charges for the administration of the cashing of cheques in post offices, which I understand to be much higher than the simple electronic transfer of social welfare cheques into bank accounts. As a result of these high charges - I do not have the figures to hand - it is incumbent on the Government to remove the threat that is now hanging over post offices, especially rural post offices, although I understand it is an urban problem as well. Some 80% of social welfare clients hold bank accounts, which means that as the Government is actively encouraging e-commerce as a policy, nearly all of those clients will collect their money through their bank accounts rather than from the post office, as is currently the situation. If that trend continues, then the future viability of rural post offices will be questionable.

I ask for a debate on this issue, so that we can get clarity on it. However, ultimately my request is for the Government to enter into negotiations with An Post about the administration of the cashing of cheques in post offices, the charges for which I understand to be higher than that going through electronic transfer into bank accounts, which obviously has very severe implications.