Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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458. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he recognises that investing €15 million per annum for five years in the Post Office Network is vital in maintaining critical public access points in communities across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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459. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider committing to a sustained annual investment of €15 million in the Post Office Network to safeguard postal services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37137/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the potential cost to the State and communities has been assessed if the Post Office Network continues to decline, due to lack of structured, multi-annual funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37138/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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461. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department will invest the proposed funding of €15 million to the Post Office Network, considering this will unlock more government services through the post office network, while also boosting local economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37139/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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462. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department will consider using the post office network as a delivery partner for more public services, such as form generation, tourist office, managing the register of electors, also that all postmasters become peace commissioners, allowing the proposed €15 million investment to the Post Office Network to deliver a greater community and economic impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37140/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 to 462, inclusive, together.

The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. My Department is working to deliver on this and is engaging with relevant stakeholders in relation to the funding. Additionally, my Department is working with Government colleagues to secure future funding in line with the Programme for Government.

An amount of €10 million/annum is currently being provided over a three-year fixed term (2023-2025) to An Post. An Post then disperses this funding across the post office network, with all contractor post offices benefitting from the Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the Network. The funding is being paid monthly for each 12-month period. For the period 2023 to end June 2025, €25 million has been claimed by An Post for the network.

It should be noted that An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State's postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including decisions relating to specific post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of the company and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function. 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.