Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)

I speak in support of this matter, which goes far beyond simple logistics or commercial viability. I speak of our post office network, a cornerstone of Irish community life, and the urgent need to ensure its survival and sustainability. The post office is not just a facility. It goes even beyond a public service. It is a social connector and, in many parts of rural and regional Ireland, a vital lifeline. Whether it is a pension collection, a child benefit payment, the BillPay service, banking or simply a familiar face for someone who may not otherwise speak to anybody else on the day in question, the post office does it all. Think of how it almost became another emergency service during Covid. I used to look forward so much to my conversations across the garden gate when my post was delivered in Drogheda.

Post office services are very much at risk. Almost 900 of the independent postmasters who operate the vast majority of our post offices are telling us loud and clear they cannot continue without immediate support. Rising costs, reduced footfall and a rapid shift towards digital services have left many on the brink. This is not speculation; it is reality. Some post offices have already closed and others operate at a loss but continue due to the postmasters' deep commitment to their communities. The figures are stark. Of 888 independently run post offices nationwide, more than 250 have closed in the past ten years. When costs are removed, 108 postmasters earn less than the minimum wage.

I have just met the Irish Postmasters' Union, which is calling for €15 million in annual funding to maintain the network. This would not be a handout but a strategic investment in national infrastructure. As a Government party, Fianna Fáil must listen carefully and respond constructively. Let us be clear that this is not about propping up a failing business model. It is about enabling transformation. It is about recognising that if a post office closes in a rural village, or even in an urban setting with high levels of deprivation, it is not easily replaced. No amount of broadband roll-out or bank ATMs can replicate the human and community value these post offices provide. Moreover, our postmasters do not resist change, but embrace it. Many post offices now offer financial services, digital Government transactions and even local enterprise supports. With adequate resources they can evolve into expanded community hubs and part of our wider vision for balanced regional development, digital inclusion and rural regeneration. Without interim financial support, they simply will not get there.

How much is needed to halt the decline? We have heard the figure is €15 million. This is a modest sum in the grand scheme of things but one with an enormous social return. Compare it to the cost of losing these services. There would be increased pressure on welfare offices, the loss of community connection and a hollowing out of rural and small-town Ireland. That price is far higher. As a Government, we have a duty not only to respond to crises but to act with foresight. Supporting the post office network is aligned with our programme for Government commitments on rural Ireland, digital equity and sustaining public services. I add my voice to those urging the Cabinet to act decisively and work with An Post and the Irish Postmasters' Union to deliver the €15 million needed. We can and must secure the future of our post office network. Let us not look back with regret in a few years, wondering how we let it slip away. It will be far too late then. Instead, let us ensure it continues to serve our people as it always has, reliably, locally and with heart.