Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is welcome. It is great we have a rural Minister of State who understands this brief and the impact of post offices on rural communities.

Post offices have long been more than simply places to post letters or collect a parcel. As we have heard tonight, they are trusted local institutions that support the day-to-day lives of people in every corner of our country. They are community hubs, lifelines for the elderly and, increasingly, essential service providers in an age when banks and other supports are disappearing from rural Ireland.

The Irish Postmasters' Union commissioned a recent RedC poll and we know the value and weight this House puts on RedC polls. That poll put figures on what many of us already knew in our hearts, namely, that post offices mattered. The poll found that 91% of people believed post offices remained crucial in today's digital world. At a time when online transactions are growing, the need for human contact, trustworthy advice and access to physical services has not disappeared. In fact, they have become even more valuable, especially for those who are vulnerable or isolated or simply prefer face-to-face engagement. I have seen postmasters put credit on mobile phones for elderly people who are not able to do that job. They do work that is not in their remit.

Another detail that came through the RedC poll is even more striking. Nine out of ten people believe their community would be worse off without a post office. That is not just a statistic. It is a powerful statement about belonging, identity and the infrastructure that keeps communities connected. I refer to a publication by the Irish Postmasters' Union in which Pádraig Mac Namara, a postmaster in Granard, captured it beautifully when he said that the post office is more than just a workplace, it is a vital part of the community. With both banks closed in his town, people turn to him in his post office for everything from bill payments, savings, and cash withdrawals. Many of our most vulnerable citizens still rely on cash to manage their daily finances. His words are a reminder that, behind every counter, there is a person who knows their customers by name, who checks in on their well-being and provides a level of personal service that no app or algorithm can replace. If we want this network to survive, we need long-term Government investment. The public is not just in favour in that; some 89% believe it is important that the Government continues to invest in keeping our post offices open.

This is not a plea for sentimentality. It is a call for sustainability because securing the future of our post office network is directly linked to the sustainability of many rural communities. I had a Commencement matter this morning about promoting remote working. The Department is fully behind building on the infrastructure that the State has already invested in. The post office network is an integral part of tapping into remote working. We have a social responsibility to address this. I welcome the postmasters from Galway, Kerry, Louth, Mayo, Kildare, Westmeath, Waterford, Donegal and Dublin. We will support them as best we can.