Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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586. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to ensure the viability and sustainability of towns and villages in rural areas in which a decision has been taken to close the local post office; the efforts being made to mitigate against the harmful consequences of these closures on such local economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47900/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has policy responsibility for the postal sector, however, I am acutely aware of the value placed by rural communities on services such as the local post office. In my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development I am absolutely clear on the importance of ensuring that these communities can access the services they need so that they remain vibrant places in which to live and work.

Investment in rural Ireland is taking place right across Government. The Action Plan for Rural Development is a comprehensive cross-Government plan which sets out a wide range of measures focused on supporting and building sustainable communities; growing jobs and enterprise; improving access to services; maximising tourism, culture and heritage assets; and improving connectivity in rural areas.

Since its publication, Government departments have been working towards delivery of the measures contained in the Action Plan. The Third Progress Report on the Action Plan is due to be published shortly and I can confirm significant progress continues to be made across the range of measures.  

Continued implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development, together with the additional €1 billion investment provided for through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, will bring positive benefits to our rural communities. I expect to be able to announce the first group of projects to be supported by the Fund before the end of this month.

My Department also administers a range of funding programmes that support local communities throughout Ireland. Of particular importance for those towns and villages most disadvantaged in terms of access to services are the CLÁR Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the funding being provided to our public libraries.

Additionally, funding delivered through the LEADER Programme and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme provides supports tailored to the specific needs of individual areas.

The Government is also continuing to explore ways to sustain the viability of the post office network into the future. Last month, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment launched a new Digital Assist pilot initiative with An Post. Ten locations across the country will act as pilots for the provision of new services and I am delighted that my Department has been able to provide funding of €80,000 for this programme. The first unit has been unveiled in Ballymore Eustace post office in Co Kildare.

In terms of directly facilitating access to services in rural Ireland, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has provided a funding allocation of €14.9 million for local link services in 2018. Such funding facilitated 1.9 million passenger journeys last year – providing a vital service for rural communities.