Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome and I thank him for his comprehensive introduction to the Bill, which is a large piece of paperwork. It is important to note that we had not transposed the EECC by the deadline in 2020. We are well behind in that regard. We are looking at significant fines from Europe. It is important for this Bill to pass through the House quickly.

The Title refers to the Digital Hub Development Agency. I put on record my thanks, in particular, to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, for the significant investment she put into the development of digital hubs throughout the country. A digital hub in my county was nominated for an EU award at a ceremony in Prague. I also thank the local authorities for the development of community hubs in the various community centres not only in Longford but throughout the country. That is important. There is a need for it, as was never more clear than during the pandemic. It is important that the infrastructure will be there in the future.

The national broadband plan, NBP, is rolling out broadband throughout the country. There is legislation here to ensure no house is left behind, which is important. Every person in every house must know that while it may take time until their house has high-speed broadband, it will happen. It is important that everyone realises that.

This is about giving teeth to ComReg to do what it needs in the industry, going forward, and giving it the power to properly regulate the industry in this country and the significant numbers of providers that are based here.

I will also mention the post office network. I have been working for a number of years to ensure we have a sustainable network of post offices throughout the country. It is important to note that I am a postmaster and, therefore, I am aware of the significance of the Government funding that was put in place last May. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for the support she gave and the interaction she had with the Irish Postmasters' Union to ensure this funding was put in place. The reality is that if this funding had not been put in place and support had not come from Government, in the region of 200 to 300 post offices would have closed in the first six months of 2023. That would have happened. One can imagine the impact that would have had on a large number of communities throughout the country, not only in rural areas but also in urban communities. People must realise that this is about sustaining the network and, thereby, sustaining communities throughout the country. I welcome and fully support the Government's intervention. It is important that we see the speedy passage of the legislation to ensure the funding finds its way to the postmasters who have experienced significant wage decreases in recent months, particularly in urban areas, where rents are high. Many postmasters are finding it difficult to keep going.

Senator Horkan suggested putting more government services into post offices and we need to do that. We need to put significantly more government services into post offices. We do not need situation where officials from the Department of Social Protection, and not at the direction of the Minister, are writing to customers, who need the post offices to collect their pensions or whatever payment they may be getting, and asking them to move their payments directly to the banks. An exercise with regard to jobseeker's allowance was undertaken during the pandemic. That highlighted the significant revenue that is fraudulently lost to the taxpayer by those payments being made directly into bank accounts rather than via the post office. On average, €60 million per year is refunded to the Department of Social Protection from An Post in unclaimed payments. None of that comes back from the banks if those payments are paid into bank accounts. One could ask questions. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is in support of all jobseeker's payments coming from the post offices rather than through the banks. Realistically, we also need to look at other payments too. I believe that a significant amount is being lost to the Exchequer. During the pandemic, phone calls were made to elderly people advising them it would be better for their health and safety if they moved those payments. We need to put more business and support into the post office. We also need consider the future and ensure that in 12 or 18 months, other safeguards and funding are put in place to allow for a continuing and sustainable network across communities in the years ahead.