Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
1321. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the representations her Department has made to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in respect of proposed post office closures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36973/18]
View answerThis Government continues to be committed to maintaining the post office network and for An Post to remain a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. I understand that An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) have agreed a plan for the future of the post office network that paves the way for a modernisation programme which should facilitate the development and renewal of the post office network.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is an important customer of the company. The Department makes approximately 80 million Social Welfare payments per annum of which nearly 42% are by cash via the post office network. My Department’s support and commitment to An Post is very apparent. Earlier this year we renewed the contract for cash payment services with the company. This contract is worth approximately €50m per annum to An Post.
Under the terms of the Department’s contract with An Post for cash payment services, the company is obliged to maintain a network of outlets so as to ensure that 95% of welfare clients are within 15km of a post office in a rural area and within 3km of an outlet in an urban area.
The cash payment services contract is not a matter for the Department of Communications, Climate action and Environment but is the responsibility of my Department and An Post. My officials meet with An Post each month to monitor the terms of the contract and they have been assured by the company that the current voluntary closures do not affect this contractual obligation.
