Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----as they are an important contact point for people, apart from the services they provide. As social welfare payments move to be partially online, it continues to put pressure on front-line smaller post offices, as 30% of their revenue is directly generated from providing local and direct social welfare payment services. An Post employs 3,700 people nationwide. I know the importance of those jobs and services to the country. With over 40 post offices in County Kerry alone providing essential services to the people of the south west, this network is a national asset. The local knowledge and interaction with rural communities must be protected. Being a national asset, rural post offices have the capacity to provide much more than a social welfare payment system. Both of the working groups focused on the network have proven that its potential is recognised. Its preservation as the cornerstone of our society is of the utmost concern to all of us.

The direct provision of Government services document, The State at your Door, was encouraged by the Grant Thornton report. I fully support the suggestion by the working group led by Bobby Kerr for a pilot scheme to be set up as soon as possible to initiate a motor tax renewal service throughout the country. It has been suggested that it would save €60 million for the State. It is a natural conclusion to provide these Government services with such a trusted and widespread institution as An Post.I understand that frustration has been expressed by the Irish Postmasters Union, IPU, at the delay in providing this scheme. I call on the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, to push for its implementation by the end of the year. I heartily agree with the views of the IPU, and a number of postmasters in Kerry have expressed the same view to me. If we are to preserve the post office network in rural Ireland then we can no longer sit on these reports. I suggest that the Leader invites the Minister to the House in early course to outline her views on progressing the recommendations of the reports and how she intends to implement them nationwide.

Apart from the suggestions already referred to, a limited banking service could also be provided by postmasters. These people are there to serve and they want to continue to do so. Instead, they are being harassed and limited in their work. I ask the Leader to speak to the Minister as soon as possible.