Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. There is some €15 million for growing and modernising the network. Who makes the decisions on the priorities and where this €15 million will be invested? Does the Minister have any influence over that? The Minister of State says people are not proficient or comfortable in accessing digital services online at home and he is providing some training within ten pilot post offices in rural areas. The point also needs to be made that a significant amount of those people who are not comfortable with online tools actually prefer human interaction. It is an important part of the fabric of communities, building resilient and stronger communities, and battling isolation. Perhaps the Minister of State cannot give me an answer on my local post office in St. James's Street, Dublin 8. Will he ask the Minister if he could make inquiries into this? It is historic. For that to go would spell the death knell of many more post offices.