Written answers

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Postal Services

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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18. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects An Post to play a role in the communications sector in the future, with particular reference to the potential utilisation of the nationwide network of post offices and sub-post offices, combined with counter services, which can beneficially provide a wide range of compatible services throughout urban and rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16216/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Postal services play an important communications role, serving the needs of domestic and business customers alike. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume declines.

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

The post office network has many strengths and can play an important role in the communications sector into the future. For example, it has the largest retail network in the country and was fully computerised some years ago. As a result, it can fill a vital role in the nationwide provision of over-the-counter services to the public, state services and other financial and commercial transactions.

In recognition of the changing commercial environment, I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group in January of this year to examine the potential from existing and new Government business and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network as well as identifying the new business opportunities for the network.

I look forward to the findings of the Group later this year which, I believe, will play a significant part in the future of An Post and the maintenance of the post office network.

I envisage a strong future for the post office network by using its existing strengths to remain a significant player in the provision of government, financial and other services. It has been long standing policy that An Post remains in a position to compete in a liberalised market and continue to provide wide ranging services to urban and rural communities.

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