Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a commitment to delivering Government services through the post office network has been sought by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60878/21]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the estimated cost to the Exchequer to maintain the post office network at existing standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60879/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

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. There are no plans to bring forward a public service obligation at this time.

The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network. An Post provides important services to its customers and key Government services to citizens; including through contracts with the Department of Social Protection and the National Treasury Management Agency.

The work of the Inter-Departmental Group, which was established to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of additional Government services being contracted through An Post and the post office network is at an advanced stage and the report will be submitted to Government in the near future.