I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 122 together.
The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable post office network providing a range of services to meet customer needs as set out in the Programme for Government. The network is geared towards customer demand in both urban and rural locations and must be adaptable to changing circumstances and trends but the core objective of the Government continues to be the retention of access to post office services in as many locations as possible.
The Deputies will appreciate, however, that I have no statutory responsibility for postal services and have not, therefore, assessed the effects, if any, of the closure of post offices. The question of the commercial viability of post offices is a matter for my colleague, Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.