Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if An Post will retain the social welfare contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20629/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issues approximately 1.1 million weekly payments of which 58% are paid through An Post. The Government's decision in 1999 to extend my Department's existing contractual arrangements with An Post gave rise to a procurement complaint being lodged with the European Commission in 2000. That complaint was subsequently referred by the Commission to the Court of Justice. In the meantime An Post, with the agreement of the Commission, has continued to provide the service on an interim basis since 1 January 2000. There are no plans to change this arrangement.