Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned about reports over the past few days about the future of post offices in rural Ireland. I agree with a number of my colleagues who are concerned about this. Over the years, rural post offices have been lost throughout the countryside and now rural towns are beginning to lose them. If business is transferred to banks, there will be no option but to close post offices in towns and villages in rural Ireland. Ballintogher post office in County Sligo is under threat and there is a great deal of talk about it. Some people have difficulty using banks. Those who cannot use machines to lodge and take out money are simply not wanted by the banks because there are no staff to assist them. We should build up rural post offices, especially in towns and villages, to make sure that services are retained.