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Post Office Closures

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Questions (85)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

85. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the process to review decisions to close rural post offices undertaken by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53178/18]

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Written answers

An Post is a commercial State body with its own Board. Decisions relating to the post office network are an operational matter for An Post.

In the face of serious declines in the volume of mail and post office business, An Post faced growing losses and has had to undertake a major restructuring of its business in order to continue to be able to provide their valuable services.

In relation to post offices it has agreed an exit arrangement where postmasters choose to retire. It has established a protocol which sets out how the company would facilitate the continued provision of Post Office services where this occurs. Its aim is to make as many post offices as possible viable. It takes account of minimum service levels as well as a range of other issues.

I understand that An Post have also set up an appeals mechanism. In the case of 45 of 51 appeals the independent reviewer upheld the decision of An Post. In five cases An Post reconsidered their decision and re-advertised the contract, while in one case the postmaster withdrew their resignation.

A key element of An Post's Strategy is to develop new business lines. This includes parcel delivery and financial services including personal loans and more recently it is considering options in relation to mortgages. It has also committed to extending its opening times.

The Government is supporting An Post in the delivery of its €150m transformation programme. The Government provided a €30m loan to An Post to support the renewal of the post office network and the continued fulfilment of the 5 day per week delivery service.

Government funding of €80,000 has been allocated to a new Digital Assist scheme which is being piloted in 10 post offices, where post offices are kitted out to help citizens engage with Government services online.

We are also looking at options to deliver Government services to those citizens who don’t want to use, or are unable to use services online. The findings of this work may be of use to An Post in the longer term.

An Post continues to experience very significant declines in mail volumes and its traditional retail business but has managed to significantly strengthen its financial services and maintain a network of 960 post offices and 1600 post points.

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