Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement by the board of An Post that it will enter the Irish retail mortgage market next year and offer customers a 1% reduction in the mortgage interest rates applying where people take out a mortgage for the first time or switch providers. In due course, An Post will move on to the provision of overdrafts and credit cards. It is clear that the high street retail banks in this country are fleecing people when one compares the interest rates charged with European averages. It is good to see An Post move on a commitment it provided in respect of rolling out further services, including financial services. However, the old chestnut of the closure of post offices remains.

I am very disappointed to have been notified earlier that Ballindine post office in County Mayo has failed the review and will not be allowed to reopen, including by means of giving someone else the opportunity to run a post office there. I question the way in which An Post is applying this protocol. There is no clarity in respect of it. There are more than 1,500 people in the electoral division comprising Ballindine, Garrymore and Irishtown and my understanding is that An Post's aim is to have a post office in place for every 500 people at least. There is no explanation regarding the review apart from a standard letter issued to every person who has made a submission. The letter states that An Post has examined the protocol and is sorry that the post office has not been successful.

An Post's bona fides in applying the protocol are put into question in another regard. When An Post is shutting down a post office, it gives ten to 14 days' notice. If one wants a review, it takes place after the post office is closed. The post office in Ballindine closed on 10 or 12 August and the results of the review have been provided now. I do not think An Post is a bit serious about reviewing or reconsidering anything. I note that three business people in Ballindine made expressions of interest to An Post in August and indicated their interest in discussing the possibility of continuing to provide the services. These people are not doing it for the good of their health. If there is a business proposition there, they will run with it. If there is not, they will not. An Post has not engaged with them in any shape or form, however, which is a disgrace. It is using the protocol as a carte blancheto shut down 159 post offices.I am not suggesting every post office should remain open. That would be a foolish statement and would detract from the good cases in some communities to retain their post offices. Will the Deputy Leader take this issue up with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten? We have been told that where people want to engage, there will be engagement. However, the engagement with An Post is not a bit meaningful. It will have to be taken to task on this.