Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the transformation payment agreed between post offices and An Post in 2018 will be extended; and if not, the financial assistance that will be put in place to keep the post network operating. [16676/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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228. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he is taking to ensure a sustainable post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure in rural and urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16948/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 228 together.

The Programme for Government recognises that a modernised post office network will provide a better range of financial services and e-commerce services for citizens and enterprise, as part of our commitment to a sustainable nationwide post office network.

The terms under which Postmasters contract with An Post is a matter between the Postmasters and An Post and any negotiations are a matter for both parties directly.

A lot of work has been done over the past few years to develop the post office network and this has had a positive effect for both postmasters and customers. This momentum needs to be maintained and if An Post, the postmasters and Government work together we can ensure that the network can emerge as a central hub for a wide variety of valuable community-focused services.

An Post is transforming its retail network by delivering new products and new formats. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs to include loans, credit cards and more foreign exchange products, local banking in association with the major banks and a full range of State Savings products. Two new dedicated sub-brands, An Post Money and a new business-to-business brand, An Post Commerce, were launched. Investment by An Post of €50 million in the network is designed to encourage communities to use the enhanced services in their local post office.

The Government believes An Post has untapped potential to do more and make a further significant contribution across many areas of public, business and community life in Ireland. In that regard, Government recently approved the Report on the Provision of Offline Government Services and the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group, co-chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to, inter alia,examine the feasibility of directing more Government business to the post office network. The Group will report back to Government by the end of July.

Government is committed to working with An Post and postmasters to ensure that the network continues to play a strong role in delivering State services. As with any business the post office needs to develop commercial strategies to enable it to grow and maintain its relevance for its users. All options will be considered fully and every effort made to give effect to the Government commitment to ensuring a sustainable and viable post office network.