Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action to be taken by the Government to stop the collapse of the An Post network contract offices; the actions she will undertake to halt the reduction of postmasters' incomes and help prevent the increase in costs that they are experiencing; and when the findings of the Bobby Kerr report will be delivered. [27651/16]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The postal sector has been undergoing systemic change both nationally and internationally in recent years, with the increased use of electronic communications leading to the decline in core mail volumes year on year. In recognition of this changing business environment, the Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in 2014 to examine the potential for new and existing Government services to be transacted through the post office network, and to identify new business opportunities for the network. The final report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, which was published in January of this year, made a number of recommendations to support the future sustainability of post offices. These include recommendations in relation to the renewal of the post office network, the development of a basic payment account, the provision of motor tax services, and the creation of hubs around which local economic and social activity could revolve. The report also recommended that An Post should, following appropriate consultation with postmasters and others, review and amend the five-year strategy for the post office network.

The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcommits to acting on the recommendations in the report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group. A number of Working Groups have been established to progress the recommendations, including through the establishment of a Network Renewal Implementation Group, which is being independently chaired by Mr. Kerr. This Group is examining the number and spatial distribution of post offices, branch modernisation, the streamlining of products and services, postmaster payments and contracts, and training and qualifications for post office employees.

The Group is continuing to meet monthly, with the intention of finishing its deliberations soon and reporting back to the Board of An Post in the first instance.

I have separately established the Post Office Hub Working Group, to identify potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas.

I will be reporting back to the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs on a regular basis on the progress being made on these, and other recommendations in the report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group.