Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Senators for their contributions. The very large turnout of Senators, the fact so many are still present in the Chamber and the number who came in to contribute to this debate very much reflects the esteem in which the post office network is held, not just in the political system but in the minds of local communities.

I also thank the Irish Postmasters' Union representatives for being here and for always strongly putting forward and advocating on behalf of the network and the role it can play. I assure them that in my role as Minister of State, I want to champion the post office network and make sure that it stays strong and vibrant. There are challenges. I want to work to support the post office network to address those to maintain post offices and keep them sustainable.

Many Senators raised the renewal of the three-year agreement, which completes at the end of this year. That has delivered €10 million, for the first time, from the Government to support the post office network. I am committed to making sure we renew that and working to make sure it is as strong as possible. The postmasters' union has made a submission and an ask for €15 million. Obviously, the outcome is very much subject to budgetary negotiations, but I assure the union that I am working in every way possible to get the strongest possible outcome in that regard, and to get a renewal of that agreement that will see the post office network supported strongly by the State.

I will also continue to work on and assess the opportunities to see how we can deliver and expand the services through the post office network. There is a real willingness among postmasters and postal service staff to try to take every opportunity possible to see how they can be even more at the hub of service provision in local communities. That is something I certainly will be exploring to see what more is possible and what we can do in that space.

We are also working on the technical pieces around the renewal of the three-year agreement, subject to state aid rules. This comes within the European Union state aid rules, so we are preparing the groundwork for that as we engage in the budgetary process regarding the final outcome.

A few Senators mentioned post offices that are in heritage buildings and the importance of trying to maintain those. As the post office service is very much at the centre of local communities, in some cases, the buildings in which these are housed have been at the centre of local communities. That is something I am conscious of. In recent times, we have seen some post offices move for co-location, which has worked very well for many postmasters and for the provision of services.However, we have to be very conscious that, where a transfer of location takes place within a town or village, particularly if the post office is in a heritage building, full consideration should be given to making sure the building stays at the heart of the community and remains part of community life. A protocol is in place regarding how An Post must engage with the Department of housing and heritage and the local authorities and under which they have the first call on any property. We have to see the buildings repurposed so that they continue to service the local communities in the way the post offices would have previously provided a key service to them.

I met An Post this morning. I know the postmasters' union has been working closely with it. There is a very strong shared commitment to maximising the capacity of the postal network to provide services and, in terms of innovating, to making sure that An Post is at the forefront of developing new opportunities. That is something I have worked on with An Post and the postmasters' representatives.

I thank the Senators for their very clear message, their contributions and their articulation to the wider public of the importance of maintaining this service and of the understanding of that within the political system, including the Government. I also note the strong articulation to all who work in the post office network of how the service they provide is very valued. It must be valued by the Government in terms of the way we support them to be financially sustainable. Gabhaim míle buíochas leis na Seanadóirí. I look forward to continuing to work closely with all of them to ensure our network is supported throughout the country.