Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this item. I appreciate that the Minister is here to respond. The Minister is probably hearing a lot about the concerns communities throughout the country have about the future of the post office network. The issue has been raised on many previous occasions. The concern from the post officer workers, the network and the Irish Postmasters' Union, IPU, is that a plan be prepared as was committed to in the programme for Government, as to the future of the post office network. I come from an urban area and I completely understand the value of my local post office, as well as in rural areas. They play a very valuable role. That is their strength and they are playing to that. The network employs 3,000 people and in 2012 there were 1,152 post offices located throughout Ireland. Grant Thornton recently produced a report on the future viability of the network and it claimed that 450 to 500 post office could close between 2013 and 2017. I do not understand that because in the years 2006 to 2010 197 post offices closed, but since then only 17 have closed. That question should be addressed.

My local postmistress told me they wanted to pitch for driving licences and motor tax. The local post offices could provide many services. They are concerned about the move to electronic payments. Electronic payments are the future and in today's world one cannot stop that because this is about making it easy for consumers and service users. Nonetheless there are areas within which the post office network can develop expertise and provide additional services.

Post bank services are an example. People could be encouraged to use them. If they are concerned about the service they are getting from their local bank, they could move to a post bank.

This is not simply about the Government preparing a plan. That is important, but people must realise, as consumers and customers, that if they wish to retain their local post office, they must support it. That strong message should be conveyed. Perhaps, however, the Minister might respond to their concerns. Will a plan be put in place or is the Government committed to addressing this issue? As he is aware, post offices play a very valuable role in terms of community supports. The postmistress to whom I spoke told me she was the third generation of her family in the post office; therefore, she knows her customers well. It is a valuable and unique support and we should protect it in so far as we can, given all of the constraints.