Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to make grant aid available for rural post offices to ensure their computerisation, including the provision of Internet availability to the public; his views on whether this would help address the information divide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23440/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The primary responsibility for the development of the post office network rests with An Post. 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.

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. Ten post offices have been automated as part of this project and a marketing campaign is under way in the localities where the pilot projects are being undertaken to support the initiative. Upon completion of the pilot, An Post will assess and evaluate the results of the project and the impact of automation on business.

With regard to the provision of internet availability to the public, there are no plans by An Post, at this point, to provide this service to the public through the rural post office network. However, I would like to point out that, with the roll out of eGovernment services, the automated element of the post office network is ideally placed to capitalise on opportunities arising in this space, especially in the area of ePayments.

A core objective for An Post continues to be the retention of access to post office services in as many locations as possible, in the manner which best meets customer needs, whether services are provided via post offices, postal agencies or the postpoint network.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to publish a strategy for the rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The development and continued viability of An Post and the post office network is, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post.

This Government and the Board of An Post are committed to the objective of ensuring the continuation of a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network as set out in the Programme for Government. The challenge for all stakeholders in An Post is to generate sufficient profitable business to maintain the network at its current size.

I have asked the company to ensure that any strategy for the development of the company should ensure the long term viability of the post office network and in this light, An Post is currently working on a financial services initiative which could see the development and expansion of the range of financial services that it can deliver through its network of post offices.

Following recent Government approval the board and management of An Post have now commenced exclusive negotiations with the company's preferred partner, Fortis, to expand the range of retail financial services available through the post office network with a view to increasing the levels of post office business. If the initiative proves to be successful, it could lead to a significant increase in post office business and contribute to the enhanced viability of the network.