Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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576. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the full extent to which the post office system will be adapted using modern technology to provide a complimentary range of services to those already provided through An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39597/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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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 network of customer focused post offices in the community.

The post office network faces significant challenges given the impact of the economic downturn over the last few years, changes in technology and customer retail preferences. However, post offices, having being fully computerised some years ago, also stand well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as the more traditional over the counter transactions.

The Post Office Network Business Development Group, whose remit is to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network, presented its initial report to me in May 2015. In summary, the initial report outlined that the future of the post office network would be best secured by seeking out opportunities in the following areas: financial services, including services delivered by the Department of Social Protection ,and basic banking for the unbanked, Government services, social capital and enterprise, and white labelling of financial and other products.

In advance of receiving the final report, it is premature to speculate on future products or services and how they will integrate into the existing An Post technology infrastructure.