Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1289. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to increase work for the post office network in order to assist it in remaining viable; his negotiations on this to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35473/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, to ensure the company is fully compliant with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post.

Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for An Post mails and retail businesses, including the post office network, are a matter for the board and the management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function. Consequently, measures to maintain, enhance and diversify the post office network are fundamentally a matter for An Post.

It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong, viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and that it maintains a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The Deputy will be aware that a fundamental review of An Post, including the post office network, which will identify the strategic changes and restructuring necessary to maintain the company on a sound financial footing, is ongoing.

Transforming the postal business will be difficult and will require tough decisions, but any new changes will be designed to make An Post fit for a future in which the organisation can be confident, robust and a winner in the digital world. Government policy is to offer Government services online. In time, it is likely that this will represent the default option in accessing services. For the foreseeable future, however, a segment of the population will not be comfortable or able to access services digitally. I believe that the post office network is the obvious choice for citizens as the offline gateway, with its nationwide network and existing strong relationship with offline citizens. The potential is there so it is imperative that it is harnessed.

On foot of a reconfiguration of Government Departments in July of last year, responsibility for the post office network transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. When the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs published the final report of the post office hub working group in March of this year, it outlined that it is pursuing the possible opportunities for the network to provide services such as community banking and motor tax renewal. Arrangements are in hand to reassign responsibility for the post office network to my Department in light of my overall responsibility for An Post. The recommendations of the post office hub working group will continue to be finalised between both Departments.

While decisions in relation to restructuring of An Post and the operation of the post office network are operational matters for the Board and management of An Post, I am monitoring the position closely and hope that a pragmatic approach which will ensure the long term sustainability of An Post and the post office network can be agreed. I have had a number of meetings with the CEO and the Chairman and my officials also meet An Post on a regular basis.  I have encouraged An Post to continue to work closely with all parties to find an agreed solution to the renewal of the network.  Government will be briefed once a definitive strategy has been agreed but until such time it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this process.