Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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98. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the envisaged or enhanced role he sees for the post office network including sub-post offices and counter services with particular reference to the utilisation of technology by An Post thereby enhancing opportunities for growth in the sector in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52190/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard.An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have been supportive of its attempts to diversify its income streams and to win a wider range of commercial contracts offering higher margins. Having invested in the computerisation of all post offices, An Post is well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and financial services sector. Progress towards diversification within the financial services sector is already underway with the enhanced arrangement with AIB and the agreement with Aviva for the transfer of their branch offices personal insurance business to One Direct. In the context of the public sector transformation agenda I have stressed to my Government colleagues that the network is ideally configured for over the counter transactions. Any such developments would, of course, need to be subject to public procurement requirements as appropriate.

Overall, I see a strong future for the network by using its existing strengths to remain a significant player as a front office for Government services.