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Seanad Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Vol. 258 No. 4

Commencement Matters

Post Office Network

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Seán Kyne, to the Chamber and ask Senator Máire Devine to outline her case.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I raise the issue of the future of the national network of post offices, the standing of which has been wobbly in the past decade or so. Many post offices have shut their doors and the future remains uncertain for those which continue to operate. Postmasters and postmistresses have provided a great community service and a warm space for communities to gather. This service is obviously under serious threat. Will the Minister of State outline the future of post offices and set out what the policy will be? How does the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment envisage the network improving and expanding in order that post offices will become vibrant spaces within all of our communities? What is the position on the long-term commitment to provide social welfare payments which represent 40% to 50% of the business transacted in post offices? The purchase of ancillary services over the counter alongside the social welfare payments contract brings the figure to 60%. Will the Minister of State publicly provide a detailed plan and timeline for the roll-out of the promised Government and financial services in post offices?

Looking at the issue in an international context, I cannot help but think of the idea of a people's bank. In this country we have been subjected to immense suffering and a lost generation have emigrated because of the dismal performance of the banks, which are interested only in maximising profits and accounting to shareholders. Their sole focus is on commercial banking, not the public interest which is served in other ways in different countries. I note the position in North Dakota and Germany where there are public banking systems in place which have had great success. Notwithstanding the fact that it has a population of only 750,000, $1 billion has been returned to the state in North Dakota. That money is given back to its citizens. We must not be disenfranchised, therefore, in being kept from ownership of public banking. Does the Minister have a policy on post offices in the context of mortgage lending, foreign exchange, motor vehicle registration, driver licensing, identification verification cards, foreign exchange cards, bill pay services, parcel lockers and so on?

I want to introduce a local dimension. Rialto post office in Dublin South-Central shut its doors for various reasons but public demand ensured it was reopened. It is now thriving. I grew up on St. James's Street where a post office has been in place since 1890. It is adjacent to the Guinness brewery and the largest health infrastructure project in the history of the State, namely, the national children's hospital. There is student accommodation available there and the street is on the country's primary tourist trail which leads along the same road from Trinity College Dublin to Kilmainham Gaol. Many foreign workers are employed in the area in which many foreign students, nurses and doctors live, including within the accommodation on the St. James's Hospital campus. The post office has been given notice, although we have managed to have the date extended to 18 July. I plead with the Minister of State to intervene to find suitable alternative premises for it.

Given the evident demand and the historic importance of this post office in that area which has served Guinness workers throughout their lifetime, old age pensioners, the young and now an influx of people from abroad who will need those services, I would like a response on this.

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