Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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49. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he has taken in response to the findings of a report (details supplied) published in 2020 regarding the future of the post office network; the engagement he has had with a union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44113/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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59. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on introducing a public service obligation of approximately €17 million per annum for the post office network. [44131/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 59 together.

The Government is committed to working with An Post and Postmasters to ensure that the post office network continues to play a strong role in the delivery of postal and other services to their customers.

My officials and I have met with representatives of the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) in relation to the Grant Thornton Report and to discuss matters relating to the post office network in general. Further substantial engagement also took place with An Post in relation to the €8.5m initiative the company has introduced to provide support for the post office network as we emerge from the pandemic. The fund will benefit post offices over an 18 month period from 1 July.

There are no plans to bring forward a public service obligation at this time. An Post is a commercial semi-state company and it is longstanding Government policy that postal services will not be directly subsidised by the taxpayer. The Government remains fully committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. A long-term low interest loan of €30m was provided to the company in December 2017, of which €15m was to support and protect the renewal of the post office network.As with any business An Post and individual post offices need to continue to develop commercial strategies to enable them to grow and maintain their relevance for current and future customers.

The Government continues to provide significant business to An Post through the Department of Social Protection’s Social Welfare contract and the National Treasury Management Agency business. Government efforts have been focussed on supporting An Post in the roll out of new services and the delivery of its strategic plan.

An Inter-Departmental Group, co-chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, has been established to, inter alia,examine the feasibility of additional Government services being provided through to An Post and the post office network. A Report will be submitted to Government in the near future.

All options will be considered fully to give effect to our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and viable post office network, while respecting the commercial mandate of An Post.