The 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.