Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the 400 non-computerised post offices will be brought under the ambit of a public service obligation; if An Post will be instructed to computerise these remaining post offices in the post office networks as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13084/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Government and An Post share the objective of maintaining a viable nationwide post office network through a strategy of maximising the volume of both public and private sector business handled by the network. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, the Government recognises the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network. Accordingly, An Post development strategies for the network continue to take full account of these social benefits.

With regard to computerisation of non-automated offices, the automated network accounts for over 95% of An Post's counter business. This means that the 1,000 automated offices transact 95% of counter business while 475 non-automated offices undertake 5% of business. This figure illustrates the level of business transacted by individual non-automated offices. The current level of automated coverage is considered by An Post to be extremely comprehensive by any objective standard and this level of coverage makes it difficult to justify on either customer service or economic grounds the extension of automation to all offices, regardless of their location or business volumes.

Automation of the post office network was completed in 1997. Offices are automated today only in very exceptional circumstances, such as when an existing automated office closing and its equipment being transferred to a suitable neighbouring location which transacts significant volumes of welfare business. Nevertheless, I have asked An Post to undertake a pilot project to automate a selected number of non-automated offices to gauge the effect on new business.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will impress upon the Department of Social and Family Affairs the importance of the rural post office network and urge him to maintain the social welfare contact with An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13085/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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An Post is a commercial State company. The payment of social welfare benefits at post offices is a contractual matter between the company and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs and I agree that social welfare beneficiaries should continue to have the choice of having their benefits paid through the post office network.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of post offices closed since 1997 in each county; the location of each post office closed since 1997; the number of offices facing closure at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13086/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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There were 1,839 post office outlets in 1997 and today there are 1,455 post offices, 157 postal agencies and 3,000 postpoint outlets giving a total of 4,612 postal outlets in the State.