Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when her new Department is operational, the remit she will have for the post office network and regarding the implementation of a report (details supplied). [31957/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

The report referred to by the Deputy was prepared on behalf of An Post and was presented to the company's management in December 2016. It is a matter for the Board and management of An Post to consider the implementation of the recommendations made in that report.

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. In light of developments in the sector since the Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed in 2016 - including the commissioning by An Post of a root and branch review of the company - it has been agreed that responsibility for all aspects of the postal services, including the Post Office network, should transfer to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It will be a matter for that Minister’s Department to oversee the future direction of An Post and the Post Office Network.