Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 December 2004
172 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to An Post’s efforts to contract out postal deliveries, particularly in rural areas; and his views on whether this will inevitably lead to a reduction in the number of daily deliveries in rural areas. [33462/04]
View answerThe universal service obligation which includes nationwide delivery requirements is enshrined in EU and Irish law. It is, therefore, a statutory requirement for An Post as the designated universal service provider. The issue of detailed arrangements for delivery of mail on a nationwide basis is separate and one which does not dilute in any way the universal service obligation imposed on An Post. As part of the process of restructuring, aimed at improving the efficiency of postal services, An Post has in mind a pilot project with regard to "owner drivers". The matter is an operational one for consideration by the board and management of An Post and, therefore, one for which I have no function.
173 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he intends to fund the social elements in An Post services to ensure that these services will continue in rural areas. [33463/04]
View answerThe Government is committed to a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network. To further this objective, the Government has already provided an equity injection of €12.7 million for An Post to facilitate the modernisation of the post office network. The equity injection was paid to the company in 2003 and with this in mind, the Government is not considering providing a subsidy or subvention towards the post office network.
As a practical commitment to the future of the post office network, An Post continues to pursue new business opportunities. Additional business won includes bill paying facilities for the ESB, telephone top-ups through its Postpoint service and a contract with the AIB under which the bank's customers can access their accounts through the network. Further opportunities from both the public and private sectors are being actively explored by the company with a view to bringing on stream additional services at the post office counter, wherever possible.
The long-term future of the post office network can only be secured by meeting the needs of customers. In this regard, I have asked the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post to work in partnership with a view to securing existing business and to pursuing new business opportunities as they arise. As outlined above, that strategy is being followed with some success by the company.
Regarding rural postal services, the universal service obligation which includes nationwide delivery requirements is enshrined in EU and Irish law and, therefore, it is a statutory requirement for An Post as the designated universal service provider. Arising from the universal service obligations imposed on An Post, part of the postal market is still solely reserved to the company.
