The postal service has reverted to the bad old days. The Wells Fargo system has now returned. There is a four day delivery service to parts of the country, including County Donegal, which is unacceptable. It is not an efficient service and it will not help to keep small business people in business.
There is an increasing tendency to use facsimile machines. Medium and large size businesses no longer depend on the postal service. The banks have replaced it with their own system. Many of the major operators who have a large volume of mail are making alternative arrangements.
A very important service, one that could have been depended upon down the years, has now reached the point of collapse. It is sad. I do not criticise the workers. I strongly supported them and met Mr. Beggs who represented them. However, the service is nearly non existent and is unacceptable to many people in my county. A four day service is not on.
The future of the postal service is bleak. The Leader of the House has promised to bring this matter to the notice of An Post. It was a sad day when responsibility for the service was taken away from the Minister. It should be returned to ministerial control where the elected Members of the Dáil and the Seanad could do something about it.