Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2014
114. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a report by a company (details supplied) commissioned in 2012 by the Irish Postmasters Union regarding future services in An Post. [6039/14]
View answerOperational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I have a statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard.
The Irish Postmasters' Union presented me with a copy of the report referred to in the Question in May 2012. I found the report to be both positive and ambitious. The report, together with the report undertaken by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on the future of the post office network, set out many options for exploration in relation to the future development by An Post of the post office network.
The company has already invested in the computerisation of all post offices which leaves the post office network well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector. Any such developments would, of course, need to be subject to public procurement requirements as appropriate. Overall it is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focused network of post offices.
