Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which the post office service, including counter services, remains the focus for expansion throughout the country, with particular reference to the adaptability of the service to the increasing needs of communities in urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4815/14]

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, of course, 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. Having invested in the computerisation of all post offices, the post office network 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 and 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. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.