Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has reviewed a copy of the Grant Thornton report for the Irish Postmasters' Union, the Future of the Post Office Network in Ireland; his views on whether the options identified in the report including motor taxation, extension of banking services, household and hospital charges will be potential new service contracts for the vital post office network around the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28277/12]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 406: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received a copy of The Future of the Post Office Network in Ireland; his view on whether there is potential for diverting potential service contracts that will be valuable to the post office network and in particular where the post office network could accommodate the payments of motor taxation and extension of the banking services available, the household charges and hospital charges among others; if in this context a cross departmental group will be established under his chairmanship to explore these options which would ensure the long term sustainability of the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28342/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that post offices will be able to offer the following services, motor taxation, extension of the banking services available, household charges and hospital charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 406 and 407 together.

I received a copy of the Grant Thornton report when I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) recently.

I welcome the IPU's ambition to identify opportunities for more business to be delivered through the Post Office network.

An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the Company the need to further exploit its unique position in this regard and have been supportive of its attempts to diversify its income streams and to win a wider range of commercial contracts offering higher margins. The acknowledgment by the IPU that it is supportive of delivering new services is clearly positive in this regard.

In the context of public sector transformation, I have stressed to my Government colleagues that the increased use of the post office network should be considered by public sector bodies where this is appropriate.

As a commercial State body An Post may bid for business from both public and private organisations in a competitive market. The nature and volume of business that An Post conducts with Government Departments and Public Sector Agencies is, however, in the first instance, a matter for the company and the respective Government Departments and Agencies.

More generally, I would stress that I am committed to a strong and viable An Post and support the maintenance of the maximum number of economically viable post offices.