Vol. 538 No. 4
44 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will report on the review within various Departments to identify business which could be taken on by An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18082/01]
62 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the position regarding finding new business services which can be provided by An Post; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18085/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 62 together.
Following the publication of the Flynn report on the post office network in March last, I announced that the Government had decided to establish an interdepartmental group to provide a blueprint for the future of the network. The purpose of this group is to review all options regarding the future financing of the post office network on a sustainable long-term basis, and to engage in a consultative process with the relevant parties. Its recommendations will feed back into proposals which I will bring to Cabinet. I expect this group should conclude its work and report back to me by the end of next month. In the course of this process, the group is, of course, closely examining the range of new business service possibilities which exist for the post office network.
