Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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254. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a post office in west Cork has been closed to the public for the past three months; that social welfare customers are not able to collect payments without travelling 10 km to another post office; if she will seek a commitment from An Post that services will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28418/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An Post advised the department that the Post Office in question was temporarily closing with immediate effect on 26 February 2014 and that social welfare customers were being transferred to Skibbereen Post Office. The reasons for the closure and any potential reopening are internal matters for An Post. The current contract for cash payment services between my department and An Post requires that An Post will provide services within 15 km for 95% of the department's customers in a rural area who receive their social welfare payments at An Post. There are two Post Offices closer than Skibbereen than the Post Office in question, these are Union Hall PO 3.75 miles (6 km) and Roscarberry PO 5 miles (8 km). Customers who wish to receive their social welfare payments in these Post Offices should contact the department to request same.