Paul Connaughton
Ceist:213 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the proposals An Post has to pay redundancy to sub-post masters and sub-post mistresses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1964/02]
Written Answers. - Post Office Redundancies.
The Government has given an explicit commitment to the retention of the rural sub-post office network in the White Paper on Rural Development and I have given an undertaking that there will be no forced closures of post offices.
I understand that negotiations have recently been concluded between An Post and the Irish Postmasters Union on proposals to secure the future of the post office network and appropriate severance terms, where sub-postmasters who are engaged on a contract basis by An Post, wish to withdraw from their contract on a voluntary basis.
These negotiations have arisen in the context of the agreement between An Post and the unions in relation to the conversion of 26 post offices to agency status on a pilot basis as was recommended in the Flynn report. The negotiations are a matter for the board and management of An Post. I have no statutory function in relation to the terms of any agreement reached.
I should point out that the Government has approved a 12.7 million, £10 million, increase in the share capital of An Post specifically to assist in the retention of the post office network and in November 2001, sub-postmasters received a 12% increase in pay which was recommended in the Flynn report.
I know and fully appreciate the work undertaken by postmasters and postmistresses over the years in terms of providing excellent services to the customer, particularly in rural areas, and I am committed to ensuring that the public service ethos offered by the post office network will remain.