Vol. 506 No. 2
137 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of post office outlets which have the necessary telecommunications and computerisation facilities which will allow them to offer ESB bill payments, motor taxation and any other new services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14917/99]
An interdepartmental committee is looking at how the services provided by the post office network can be expanded, particularly the possibility of providing motor taxation. If this were to take place, it would, of course, only occur after necessary consultation.
In relation to possible other new services, the capability or otherwise of the post office network to deal with such services would depend on the nature of the business.
138 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has for ATM machines at post offices; the proposals, if any, she has to extend the one stop shop scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15078/99]
I have no function in the provision of ATM machines in post offices; this is a day to day matter for An Post. However, the company has informed me that the nature and variety of the business transacted in post offices would not lend itself to the economic usage of ATMs and An Post is not proposing their introduction.
With regard to the one stop shop concept, the Deputy will be aware that the Government has approved in principle the further development of the post office network to cater, inter alia, for the payment of ESB bills, motor taxation renewal transactions, etc.
I am establishing an interdepartmental working group to oversee progress in this regard.
139 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has to provide automation for post offices which do not have the facility; the plans, if any, she has to commence this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15079/99]
I have no function in the automation of post offices; this is a day to day matter for An Post. However, the company has informed me that automation has been provided at the 1,000 offices through which 95 per cent of all post office counter business is transacted.
The volume of business conducted at the remaining 911 rural post offices is at such a low level that an extension of the current levels of automation to these offices could not be justified by An Post on a cost basis. An interdepartmental group has been established to look at the possibility of extending the range of services available, through the post office network, to certain other services.
The ongoing consultations that are planned, both by An Post with its business clients and by the interdepartmental working group on the further development of the post office network which I am currently setting up, will review the facilities that are necessary at all post offices to provide economic and efficient counter services to customers.
140 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals, if any, she has to provide a once off grant to postmasters to improve the public image of the post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15080/99]
I have no funds at my disposal from which I could provide grants to postmasters for the purpose referred to by the Deputy. The pub lic image of post offices is a day-to-day matter for An Post and I have no function in it.
However, I understand that, under the terms of their individual contracts with An Post, postmasters are responsible for maintaining post offices to the company's corporate standards. An Post provides a non-interest bearing loan facility for postmasters who wish to improve the public appearance of their offices. Some 465 postmasters availed of this facility in the period 1993-98. The current economics of the post office countersbusiness would not permit An Post to provide a grant to postmasters, and the company has no proposals in this regard.
