Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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499. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount his Department has invested in An Post over the past two years; the way in which this was invested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39493/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post.  Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, the post office network, including investment in the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post.

Reflecting its commitment to sustaining a nationwide post office network and daily mails service, the Government made €30m available in State funding to An Post in 2017, in the form of a repayable loan, to support the renewal of the post office network and the continued fulfilment of a five day per week mails delivery service.

Government funding of €80,000 has also been allocated to roll out a pilot scheme for Digital Assist which will see ten post offices equipped to help citizens with online Government interactions. The pilot scheme is currently being rolled out in rural post offices.