Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures he intends to take to serve a community where three post offices (details supplied) have closed to assist the pensioners and other social welfare recipients to be paid in the locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21240/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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An Post notifies my Department in advance of the closure of any post office. This allows my Department to redirect customers to the nearest post office or to make arrangements to make payments at another post office designated by the customer. Alternatively, payments may be made by a different payment method such as cheque or electronic transfer to an account with a financial institution.

Two of the post offices referred to by the Deputy closed in July 2003 and March 2006. The third post office is due to close on 31 May 2006. As happened following the earlier closures, customers will be redirected to other offices in the area or where these arrangements do not suit, my Department will provide alternative payment arrangements either by cheque or by direct payment into an account with a financial institution.

Customers may contact my Department at any time if they wish to make alternative payment arrangements. The location of post offices in any area is a matter internally for An Post.