Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the number of post office closures throughout the country; his proposals to ensure the retention of the maximum number of post offices and sub-offices with a view to the protection of the integrity of the postal service and its viability in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23284/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The number of post office closures and the retention of the maximum number of post offices and sub-post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of An Post and ones in which I have no statutory function.

As set out in Section 12(3) of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 "the company shall have power to do anything which appears to it to be requisite, advantageous or incidental to, or which appears to it to facilitate, either directly or indirectly, the performance by it of its functions as specified in this Act or in its memorandum of association and is not inconsistent with any enactment for the time being in force".

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is his intention to retain the post offices and the postal service in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23285/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In regard to the retention of post offices in the future, this is a matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As is set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to ensuring that Irish customers continue to enjoy high quality postal services. The current regulatory framework, which is enshrined in EU and Irish law, sets out the requirement for the provision of a universal postal service and An Post, as the designated universal service provider has statutory responsibility for providing the universal service. The draft third postal directive proposes to maintain the universal service obligation at its current level, a position strongly supported by the Government.