Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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171. 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. [10115/22]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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.