Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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860. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ensure the viability of An Post through the provision of modern services compatible with the existing structures of An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27184/16]

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 focussed post offices.

Insofar as the commercial and operational activities of the company are concerned, the Board and management of he company are constantly working to ensure that the services they provide are developed and delivered to meet the needs of its customers. Progress on delivering the company's strategic objectives is set out in their annual reports, the most of recent of which is attached at the following link .

The postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with migration towards electronic communications resulting in significant core mail volume decline year-on-year.  In January this year a Final Report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group was published.  The Report clearly sets out the challenges that An Post and Postmasters face as they ensure that the network remains relevant in the context of the inexorable shift in consumer preferences, including the trend towards digital transactions.  Implementation of the report’s recommendations is the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.