Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State is very welcome. He takes this matter very seriously and is committed to supporting our post offices in all of the communities that they serve. I understand there are 960 post offices. When I was a child growing up in Rathangan, the highlight of any day or week was the possibility of calling in to Mollie Forde, our local postmistress. She knew every single child and adult. She knew if somebody was doing exams. When someone turned 18, she would put them on the electoral register. She was a treasure in a small town. That has carried through to her son-in-law Alan, and to Shane and Connie. The untold small gestures and kindnesses that they provide for their customers is huge. That is also the case in Newbridge, where it is always a pleasure to go into Brendan, Marie, Frances and John in a busy and more urban post office. They are always there to serve the community and people.

Post offices, together with local libraries, are the most important buildings and institutions, for want of a better word, in local communities. People can gather and carry out their business. It also provides an opportunity to socialise which many may not have elsewhere. As my colleague, Senator Comyn said, during Covid when people could not mix or socialise post offices came into their own and gave of their time and provided support to so many who needed it. There are 17 post offices in south Kildare. Those who operate them provide the same dedication as those I have mentioned.

One of the issues, as the Minister of State mentioned, is that Irish post offices are typically independent businesses. Not everybody is aware of that. They believe that postmasters receive a salary rather than being paid per transaction. That is particularly unfair in smaller communities where there are not as many transactions but post offices are providing a lifeline. I say that about urban areas as well as rural ones because not far from here two post offices closed last year. That is a retrograde step. Unless support is provided to post offices that will happen more frequently.

I am very appreciative of the fact that the Minister of State said he is open to working with other Departments in terms of the type of business that post offices can carry out. It is true that An Post has untapped potential in the context of doing more and making a significant additional contribution across many areas of public business and community life. Many older and younger people are not necessarily au fait with filling in forms on computers, etc. There is a ready-made business opportunity for those who work in the post office community. I urge the Minister of State and other Ministers to examine all of the different areas on a cross-departmental basis to help support post offices and continue to breathe life into all of our communities and encourage them to thrive and survive.