Pat Breen
Question:134. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on his meeting with the Irish Postmasters' Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15724/14]
View answerThursday, 3 April 2014
Questions (134)
Written answers
I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union on 24 March and we had a useful and wide-ranging discussion on their concerns in relation to the future of the post office network. Securing the future viability of the post office network in the longer term will entail the network continuing to modernise, as it is doing, to provide the services that its customers require. An Post has undertaken a programme of capital investment particularly in the computerisation of the post office network including the automation of all post offices. As a result, the post office network stands well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as the more traditional over the counter transactions. Any such developments would need to be subject to public procurement requirements as appropriate. I have committed to taking the issue of the provision of additional public sector business to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy. I hope the Committee will make further progress on a whole-of-government approach to sustaining and developing the network consistent with European law. The professionalism of the postmasters and An Post has served the network well down through the years and I do not see any reason why this should not continue to be so in the years ahead.