Vol. 412 No. 2
82 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he took any action in relation to the decision of the chief executive officer of An Post, to close Dominick Street Post Office in Galway at the end of August thereby causing hardship for the 445 recipients of old age pension and child benefit who used the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An Post, as a matter of course, review the viability of the post offices whenever circumstances warrant it, for example where a postmaster/postmistress retires or dies. Accordingly, An Post followed their normal procedure and informed my Department that they were considering the closure of Dominick Street post office. My Department, in turn, made An Post aware of the impact that the closure of this office would have on the local social welfare customers. An Post took this into account when making their decision on the future of the office together with the question of commercial viability.
In the case of the office in question, there are two other post offices each within 500 metres of the Dominick Street office. The catchment area is also serviced by two other offices on the perimeter.
My officials have regular ongoing contact with senior officials in An Post. These contacts deal with a range of issues including the modernisation of the payment arrangements for social welfare recipients generally.
I will be introducing electronics fund transfer for child benefit recipients on a phased basis from early next year. More flexible and convenient signing and payment arrangements are being introduced for the unemployed. These measures are part of the general programme to enhance our service for all social welfare customers.
