Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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73. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she has undertaken to secure the rural post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11610/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The postal sector has been undergoing significant change both nationally and internationally in recent years, with the increased use of electronic communications leading to a decline in core mail volume for An Post. Nonetheless, the Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to find solutions to the sustainability of the post office network in this changing business environment. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a number of commitments in this regard.

Two Working Groups were established last year to progress the recommendations in the report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group which was published in January 2016. The first Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, examined, on behalf of An Post, issues such as 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. Arising out of the Group’s work, a report was submitted to An Post for their consideration on 23 December 2016.

For my own part, I established the Post Office Hub Working Group last year to identify potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas. I chaired the meetings of this Working Group, which included representatives from An Post, the Irish Postmasters Union and rural representatives. This Group has completed its work and I will report to Government shortly on its findings.

In addition, my officials have been examining the potential for the post offices to deliver other services, including the renewal of motor tax. A number of options for the delivery of this service have been identified and proposals are currently being finalised in consultation with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

The implementation of any of the recommendations or proposals which have emerged from this process will require the agreement and input of An Post, which is a commercial State company.