Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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517. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the recent approval to provide €30 million of funding to protect the future of the post office network and the continuation of a five-day week postal delivery service, in particular regarding key performance indicators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50124/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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520. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding his investment plans for the post office network (details supplied); the timeframe for their introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50389/17]

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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523. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to his statement on 21 November 2017 (details supplied) if this type of community banking is linked in with the model (details supplied) of public banking in Germany. [50521/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 517, 520 and 523 together.

As I indicated to the House last week, the Government has agreed to make €30m available in State funding to An Post. The funds will be provided by way of a long term loan advanced from the Exchequer. The €30m will be used to support the renewal of the post office network (€15m) and the continued fulfilment of a 5 day per week mails delivery service (€15m). The €30m funding will be subject to stringent conditions and Key Performance Indicators, the delivery of which will be monitored on a monthly basis by the parent Departments and NewERA. The specifics of these conditions and KPIs are currently being finalised between all parties.

The funding will be used to underpin the delivery of An Post's Strategic Plan. The proposed strategy for An Post will involve splitting the company into two distinct business units, An Post Mails and Parcels and An Post Retail. Improved profitability will be targeted through growth, pricing and cost reduction strategies. A sustainable, modern and vibrant network for the future, capable of adapting to the changing environment in which it operates, is envisaged. The Strategic Plan sets out a positive vision for the company, positions it for the digital age and aims to put the company in a position where it can support sustainable jobs in both the mails business and post office network right across the country.

In relation to the banking issue the Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions.  While last week's Government Decision also formally transferred responsibility for the Post Office Network back to my Department, officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development have been actively working with the Department of Finance to progress this Programme for a Partnership Government commitment and will continue to deal with this matter. I am advised that a project team was assembled earlier this year involving officials from both of these Departments to consider the matter. In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the community banking model, was launched in early March and ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies from a range of stakeholders were received. Officials from both Departments also met representatives from the International Sparkasse Foundation to learn more about the model.  I understand that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Finance officials are now finalising their report and this report will be submitted to both Ministers shortly for consideration.