Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael)

The Irish Postmasters' Union is certainly getting a great airing in the Seanad today, and rightly so. The union told us in its pre-budget submission last September that ine out of ten people said that their post office was essential. It went on to say that it was not just public sentiment, but a call to action. Communities want their post offices and they want the Government to act now to save them.

I welcome the opportunity this afternoon to discuss our post office network once again. We had a very engaging and informative discussion in relation to postmasters and An Post's network before the summer recess. The main topic of debate at the time was the urgent call for investment and an increase of annual funding from €10 million to €15 million per year. It was therefore encouraging to see in last month's budget that the call to action referenced by the Irish Postmasters' Union was heard and acted upon. The annual capital support for the post office network has been increased from €10 million to €15 million in 2026. This funding is in a direct response to the Grant Thornton report mentioned by Senator Conway, which highlighted the risk of up to one third of rural post offices closing if it did not receive €15 million in annual investment. The report from Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union, stated that since 2020, operating costs had risen sharply during the cost-of-living crisis and inflation of 15%. We know that our post offices are in a unique position whereby they cannot respond in the same way as other businesses to cost pressures due to contractual arrangements with An Post and that they are also precluded from accessing business supports available to other small enterprises due to these relationships. The good news, however, is that with the additional funding, 70% of postmasters say that their post offices can remain viable. The multi-annual funding of €10 million was due to expire at the end of this year, and so the commitment to an increase to €15 million per year for the next five years was both crucial and timely. However, as Senator Comyn has said, we need to ensure that the postmasters and their investments and opportunities are kept to the forefront of any agenda within the Department.

Another telling part of the postmasters' pre-budget submission spoke about how post offices were the last in-person link between the State and citizens and that they were trusted anchors in communities right across the country, both in rural and urban settings. At an Oireachtas joint committee hearing this year, the Irish Postmaster' Union president, Ms. Sean Martin, said the post offices could be the front door for all Government services. He noted that if this did not happen, the front door would close and post offices would close one by one. As well as the funding injection, another way in which we can further support our post office network is by expanding the offering of State services through our network of post offices. We already rely on our post office network for the administration of public services and welfare payments. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to expand welfare services through our post office network. Our postmasters have already shown that they can administer services on behalf of the State and at the Oireachtas joint committee earlier this year the union representatives stated that its members were willing, able and eager to play an even bigger role in the delivery of Government services. A recent survey by the union found that 89% of people wanted more Government services to be delivered through our post office network. It is a stated commitment as well by the Government to deliver on this. It is encouraging to hear the Department plans to work with postmasters on digitalisation and other innovations. Senator Conway has mentioned community banking as another avenue that perhaps could be explored.

I also want to take this opportunity to put to bed any fears about the future of the GPO. Concerns have been expressed both in this House and publicly by way of online petitions and postal campaigns about the GPO and its need to be saved. I am not sure what it needs to be saved from. There is still a working post office at the GPO. Recent figures confirm just under 300 staff are currently working within the offices and postal hall. An Post is at an advanced stage in the process of moving staff to the new purpose-built headquarters. Ownership of the GPO is currently vested in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Office of Public Works, OPW, has established a steering group with the Department, which is currently focused on the legal transfer of the building to the OPW. The Department has been engaging bilaterally with the OPW on the cultural element of any proposed new works at the GPO and has recently joined this steering group. As part of the transfer discussions, the Department is liaising with An Post regarding its subsidiary company's interest in both the arcade properties and the museum of the GPO. The overall plans are progressing in the context of the report of the Dublin city task force, which outlines the redevelopment of the GPO as a cornerstone of proposed improvements to Dublin city centre. The OPW will generate a business plan for the GPO and to date that detail is not ready, but there is no danger to save the GPO from, be that from corporate enterprise or otherwise. As I understand it, the building can house up to 800 civil servants, so options such as moving a Government Department to the site may be discussed or, as was mentioned previously by the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, perhaps a State body like RTÉ could move back there. In any event, the GPO will remain in State ownership. There is a post office and a museum there and a business plan is being produced by the OPW in respect of the transfer of responsibility.It is important to reaffirm the position that the GPO is not and never was in need of saving. It has been operating as offices, retail and a commercial facility for more than a century and that part of the offering within the historic building will remain. As stated by Senator Fitzpatrick in this House on 8 July 2025, the GPO is not under threat. It is in State ownership and will remain in State ownership.