John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 17: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he has developed his policy regarding the future of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20066/05]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 18: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will use his directive powers to influence policy in regard to the retention of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20027/05]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the result of any recent discussions he has had with An Post in regard to identification of a major strategic plan to broaden the scope and scale of services available through An Post, via the post offices; if an evaluation has been done into the most likely expansion of compatible services; the extent of upgrading and retraining required; his preferred policy intentions in the regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20017/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 71: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will direct An Post in regard to the upgrading of rural post offices with a view to the ongoing provision of modern, efficient and compatible services threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20025/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which he sees the development of the postal services in the future having due regard to the existence of the post offices network and workforce; if he has come to a decision in regard to the full scale of operations likely to be provided through the post offices in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20024/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for the upgrading, retention, restructuring or expansion of the post offices or other services through An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20021/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 192: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the result of any recent discussions he has had with An Post in regard to identification of a major strategic plan to broaden the scope and scale of services available through An Post, via the post offices; if an evaluation has been done into the most likely expansion of compatible services; the extent of upgrading and retraining required; his preferred policy intentions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20321/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 194: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals for the upgrading, retention, restructuring or expansion of the post offices or other services through An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20323/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which he sees the development of the postal services in the future having due regard to the existence of the post office network and workforce; if he has come to a decision in regard to the full scale of operations likely to be provided through the post offices in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 196: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will direct An Post in regard to the upgrading of rural post offices with a view to the ongoing provision of modern, efficient and compatible services threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20325/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 197: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will use his directive powers to influence policy in regard to the retention of rural post offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20326/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 18, 68, 71, 81, 113, 192, 194, 195, 196 and 197 together.

There will continue to be a key national role for An Post, both in delivery of mail and as a quality service provider through its nationwide network of post office outlets. The market for traditional postal and post office services is changing globally and meeting customer needs has become more important than ever.

In order to remain competitive, An Post needs to make the best possible use of its long established and trusted brand name and deploy its resources in a manner which continues to serve existing customers' needs and attracts additional customers for a range of new services.

There is agreement that change is required if the postal services of An Post are to adapt to the modern business environment and to continue to offer a top class nationwide delivery service to the customer into the future. To progress the change agenda, an exhaustive process of negotiation between An Post management and An Post trades unions, with the assistance of the State's industrial relations machinery, has been ongoing for some time. To keep up the momentum of the process and in an effort to resolve all remaining difficulties on collection and delivery arrangements, the outstanding issues are currently being dealt with in the Labour Court with a view to agreeing a way forward that will see the company placed on a secure financial footing.

With regard to the post office network, this Government and the board of An Post are committed to the objective of securing a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network through a strategy of maximising the volume of both public and private sector business handled by the network. This is set out in the programme for Government.

The challenge for the company is to develop a strategy that satisfies the needs of existing customers, while attracting new customers into the post office. An Post has already had some success in winning new business and continues to benefit from a considerable amount of Government business, especially in the areas of social welfare payments and savings products.

To ensure that our post offices remain competitive and attractive to customers, future strategy must satisfactorily balance the social benefits of a nationwide post office network and the ongoing electronic technology issues that now face the future of the network. With this in mind, An Post has started working on a new business model for the network, which will involve a substantial upgrade of IT systems in order to offer EFT functionality to social welfare recipients and a wider suite of financial and other services to new and existing customers.

The Deputies will also be aware that An Post has just launched a process seeking proposals from financial institutions with a view to developing and expanding the range of financial services available through An Post. This development presents an important opportunity for the counters service to grow, win new lines of business and acquire the technology and other resources necessary to face the challenges of the future. The company has recruited advisors to assist with the process and hopes to move it to a conclusion by the end of the year.

On the issue of upgrading of post offices, the automation of the network was completed in 1997 and it had only been in very exceptional circumstances, such as an existing automated office closing and its equipment being transferred to a suitable neighbouring location which transacts significant volumes of welfare business, that further offices were automated since then. However, I am convinced that An Post's long-term strategy must satisfactorily address electronic technology issues in a comprehensive fashion. I have asked the management to develop such a strategy and in the interim, a pilot project will see ten small post offices computerised. In a separate initiative, the company, in conjunction with the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, is working on an initiative to automate nine island post offices.

With regard to post office closures, it is only when a suitable candidate for a vacancy cannot be found or where there are no applicants that a post office is closed.