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Post Office Network

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 May 2018

Thursday, 31 May 2018

Ceisteanna (15, 34, 37, 40, 43)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

15. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the input his Department has into ensuring the viability of the rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23921/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

James Lawless

Ceist:

34. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to assist An Post with its sustainability issues; the measures he is taking to protect the rural post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23971/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

37. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work his Department has carried out with An Post regarding the future of the rural post office network. [18911/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

40. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development to retain and rejuvenate the rural post office network. [18902/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

43. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of An Post's New Vision plan; and the way in which he will support the rollout of new State services to post offices. [23958/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 34, 37, 40 and 43 together.

As Minister, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post.  I am acutely conscious of the value placed by communities in both rural and urban areas on services provided by post offices and am concerned to ensure the needs of those communities continue to be met.

As part of its strategy for modernising the post office network, An Post has established a dedicated business unit within An Post, An Post Retail.  An Post's recently announced vision for the post office network centres around the availability of new services in a modernised, revitalised network. Such services will include a better range of Government services, financial services and e-commerce services for shoppers and small businesses. The announcement by An Post is supported by an agreement reached with the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) executive following three months of intensive negotiations, which has subsequently been endorsed by 80% of IPU members.

The agreement represents a positive first step in reinvigorating our national post office network and making it a viable sustainable, modern and vibrant network for the future, capable of adapting to the changing environment in which it operates by providing a service that meets the needs of communities across the country, particularly in rural areas.

We are already seeing a number of important new business initiatives being progressed.

A pilot e-Local service was launched by An Post last year in three districts- Bantry, Mullingar and Ennis. This service combines the strengths of online commerce with that of An Post mails network for the benefit of local business. It gives local business an edge over national and international online operators by connecting retailers with their customers both online and in person. A key feature of the eLocal.ie service is that An Post will give each retailer an online presence, displaying their goods and services, and enabling online orders.

As part of its consideration of the financial position of An Post, Government agreed that further opportunities for Government business through the Post Office Network, particularly the payment of motor tax, should be explored.  While Government policy is to offer Government services online, there is always likely to be a segment of the population that is not comfortable or proficient accessing online tools or services. The post office network is the obvious choice as the “offline gateway” for citizens with its nationwide network and existing strong relationship with offline citizens. My Department has engaged with An Post and other relevant stakeholders such as the Office of Government Procurement, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and other Government Departments to assess how additional Government business might be channelled through the post office network. Discussions have been positive in this regard.

The first practical step that the Government is taking in this area is to rollout the digital assist pilot programme. Under that programme, post offices will provide access to a wide range of Government services. Government funding of €80,000 has been secured, by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, for the roll-out of the pilot scheme. Ten post offices will be equipped to help citizens with online Government interactions. The ten pilot schemes will be located in rural post offices and will be in place later this year.

In April 2018 the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection renewed her Department’s contract with An Post to provide pensions, Child Benefit and other social welfare payments in cash at Post Offices. Last year’s contract amounted to €51 million for 33.6 million payments, and the value of the 2018 contract is expected to match that.  This re-affirms Government policy which sees the post office network as a key piece of the country’s financial and social infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.   Accordingly, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to actively encourage payment at post offices.

In addition to this the National Treasury Management Agency also provides significant business to An Post.

I appreciate that there is concern regarding the potential closure of post offices.  An Post have advised that under the terms of the new agreement between An Post and the IPU some postmasters who wish to retire will be offered a voluntary severance package. There will be no compulsory closures of Post Offices as a consequence of this new deal. Postmasters have until July 31st next to signal their intentions in this matter.  It is important to note that a new protocol has been established which sets out how An Post will facilitate the continued provision of Post Office services in areas where an existing postmasters retires or ceases operating an existing Post Office. In such cases An Post will make an assessment on the future provision of post office services within the locality by reference to specific agreed criteria.

Any individuals, groups or representatives concerned with the decision can apply to have An Post’s decision reviewed through a new independent review process which will determine if An Post has correctly applied the criteria outlined in the protocol. Details of the independent review process will be specified in the notice detailing the decision of the future post office services within the relevant post office and will also be detailed on the An Post website.

All avenues are being explored to ensure services available through the post office network are enhanced in order that we have a strong, sustainable, customer focussed network

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