Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of recommendations from the 2016 Kerr Report that have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12907/22]
View answerThe Kerr Report was published in early 2016 and set out 23 recommendations requiring implementation or consideration by An Post, Postmasters and Government Departments/Agencies. 17 of the recommendations have been fully implemented, 4 have been considered in the context of the Inter-departmental group established to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of additional Government services being contracted through An Post and 2 others are part of ongoing engagement with my Department on the future of the post office network.
In parallel, significant work has been ongoing to ensure the long-term sustainability of An Post and the post office network.
An Post put in place a Strategic Plan in response to the structural challenges faced by the postal sector. In order to implement the Plan, the cost of which was estimated to be in the region of €150m, a long-term low interest loan of €30m was provided to the company in December 2017, of which €15m was to support and protect the renewal of the post office network and €15m to ensure the continued fulfilment of a 5 day per week mails delivery service. As part of the delivery of the plan the company was split into two distinct business units, An Post Mails and Parcels and An Post Retail.
An Post has continued to transform its retail network by delivering new products and new formats. This includes, among other things, diversifying and growing the financial services products it provides for individuals and SMEs to include loans, credit cards and more foreign exchange products, local banking in association with the major banks and a full range of State Savings products. An Post launched its Green Hub, a facility providing end-to-end project management and money-saving advice for all levels of home retrofitting which will be supported by competitive loan rates. Two new dedicated sub-brands, An Post Money and a new business-to-business brand, An Post Commerce, were launched.
An Post is a commercial semi-state company and as with any business An Post and individual post offices need to continue to develop commercial strategies to enable them to grow and maintain their relevance for current and future customers.
The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network. An Post provides important services to its customers and key Government services to citizens, including through contracts with the Department of Social Protection and the National Treasury Management Agency.
