Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding paying Government payments through An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53297/13]

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. In the context of the public sector transformation agenda I will continue to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to consideration, as appropriate, of the post office network for transactional elements of the business of Government Departments and Agencies. 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.