Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that he is engaged in a highly significant financial inclusion strategy and the Irish Postmasters Union has called for post offices to offer current accounts to its existing and future customers at a time when the banking system here is in crisis and a major overhaul is under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30633/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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A draft report setting out the Strategy for Financial Inclusion was published on my Department's website in June of this year. The strategy was drafted following a review undertaken by the Social Finance Foundation on my behalf, to identify recommended actions to achieve a substantial reduction in financial exclusion over a 3-5 year period – including the introduction of basic payment accounts on a pilot basis in 2012. It is noted in the report that the post office network has the potential to play a key role in the delivery of basic payment accounts. My department has reviewed the submissions received on the report and is assessing the best approach to implementation of the strategy. Any financial products which are offered by the post office network are a matter firstly for An Post. However, I will examine any proposals An Post may have which relate to the role the post offices might play in the restructured banking landscape.