Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is taking to maintain the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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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 my predecessor established the Post Office Network Business Development Group last year, the remit of which was to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the Post Office network. Mr Bobby Kerr was appointed as the independent Chair of the Group and he brought a depth of knowledge and experience in identifying and developing business opportunities for the post office network. 

The Final Report of the Group, which was published in January of this year, represents an important step towards greater financial sustainability for the Post Office and the wider network and specifies 23 recommendations with Network Renewal, Basic Payment Account and Motor Tax being the three key actions arising from the Final Report.

The Programme for Government commits to acting on all of the recommendations of the Final Report including supporting the implementation of a Basic Payment Account and enabling the payment of motor tax through the post office network. My officials have been actively engaging with other Departments and agencies on these issues over the past six months.

Responsibility for implementation of the recommendations in the Final Report will shortly transfer to the Minister for Regional  Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht.