Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As my colleagues have mentioned, the announcement of funding for the Government investment in the post office network is absolutely crucial. It is crucial to support our postmasters and post offices all over the country but especially in the west. A report done by the Irish Postmasters' Union with Grant Thornton states that 1.3 million people access services weekly from the post office. It is where people do their banking, pay their bills, save money and collect pensions and social welfare. There is a commitment from An Post to sustainable communities, which means that An Post has stated it will ensure access to a post office in communities with more than 500 people. It is crucial that this supports remote working and environmental action as there will be more reasons to work remotely and fewer reasons to travel long distances. It will also help us shop local because when there is a post office in a town or village and it will increase footfall in a town, with people coming in to make collections. If they collect a pension, for example, they will spend it locally.

I also note an announcement earlier from the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys, on the carer's allowance. It is absolutely crucial for carers all over the country. The eligibility criteria are changing and the capital disregard will increase from €20,000 to €50,000. It is really significant. They are also looking at changing the disregard for single people to €350 for single people and €750 per week for a couple. This means more people will be eligible for the full amount of the carer's allowance.