Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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615. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will augment and fully utilise the postal services network through the provision of extra compatible facilities, through modernising in the competitive economic climate and through putting provisions in place to retain post offices in areas which might otherwise be bereft of utility services, in the context of public service obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45368/15]

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 plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year-on-year. 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.

In recognition of the changing commercial environment I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group earlier this year, the remit of which is to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the Post Office network. The Group 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.

To gain further insight into these areas, a public consultation exercise was held from 16 June to 28 July last, inclusive. Interested parties were invited to submit their views on the initial report. It is clear from the responses received that there is a strong public desire to maintain the nationwide network of post offices. The consultation responses have assisted the Group in identifying opportunities that can benefit the post office network and have informed the final report, which I expect to receive presently.

It is premature to speculate, in advance of receiving the final report, on matters until I have had the opportunity to consider in detail the findings of the Group.