Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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81. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if further consideration will be given to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46860/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is providing funding of €10 million per annum over a three-year fixed term, 2023-2025, to An Post to support a sustainable, nationwide post office network.

There is an existing network of some 900 post offices in the country made up of company offices and contractor post offices. All contractor post offices are benefiting from the Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the network during the three-year funding period.

The provision of funding to Postmasters is contributing towards ensuring that the public have access to important socially valuable services across the post office network, and that the network is of sufficient scale right across the country. The funding provides time and space for An Post to accelerate the transformation and commercialisation of the network, to ensure a relevant, commercially viable network delivering more services to citizens and small businesses.

Decisions relating to the network, including actively seeking new business and exploring opportunities to develop new or enhanced product lines, are operational matters for the board and management of the company and not matters in which I, as Minister, have a direct function.