Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

942. 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. [27518/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for a Partnership Government made a number of commitments in relation to the Post Office network which were assigned to my Department. The commitments in question have now been completed or are significantly advanced.

Following an extensive deliberation process, I presented the final report of the Post Office Hub Working Group to Government in March. This report examined the potential for Post Offices to act as hubs of economic and social activity, particularly in rural communities, and recommended that a project to test the concept of Shared Value Co-located Post Offices should be piloted, initially at four locations.

There have been a number of developments in relation to postal services generally since the Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed last May, including the commissioning by An Post of a root and branch review of the company.

Overall responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, falls under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and, in light of developments in the sector, it has been agreed that all aspects of the postal services, including the Post Office network, should transfer to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, where necessary, to support the Post Office network in rural communities.