Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
170 Mr. Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make arrangements for the automation of post offices at Grange, Clonmel, Newcastle, Clonoulty, Rossmore and Hollyford, County Tipperary, to ensure the continuation of vibrant village communities and to stop the closure by stealth and starvation of resources of these village post offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28277/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegarding the automation of the post office network, An Post bears a statutory obligation to be financially self sufficient and to conduct its affairs in such a manner as to minimise costs to its customers. The company's programme of automation for certain post offices was completed in 1997. It is, therefore, only in exceptional circumstances such as an existing automated office closing and its equipment being transferred to a suitable neighbouring location which transacts significant volumes of welfare business that offices are automated. The automated network accounts for over 95% of An Post's counter business. This level of automated coverage is considered by An Post to be extremely comprehensive by any objective standard.
Given the minimal business volumes and small customer base of the remaining non-automated post offices and the prohibitively high costs, both capital and ongoing, of automating them, An Post advises me that it has no plans to increase the number of automated offices. That decision is entirely a commercial operational matter for the company.
The Government is committed to a viable and widespread rural post office network. However, consideration must be given to the current climate in which An Post is operating, bearing in mind the serious operational losses the company has suffered and the measures that need to be implemented if the company is to reverse its current situation.
