Question on maintaining our post offices

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the actions he plans to take after the passing of the amended motion on post office services in Dáil Éireann on 26 February; the time frame he envisages for an action plan to come forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Thomas Pringle.
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014.

Ref No:
11507/14 Lottery: 4 Proof: 100

 
To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will liaise with the Department of Finance in ensuring the roll-out of the standard bank account to post offices nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Thomas Pringle. For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014. 　 　 Ref No: 11508/14 Lottery: 10 Proof: 106

REPLY
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 17, 31 and 35 together.
The importance of maintaining a network of post offices around the country is recognised in the Programme for Government. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.
As shareholder I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard.
I have expressed my disappointment at the recent headlines asserting that post offices are to close and the impression circulating that somewhere, somehow, the Government has announced a plan to shut down post offices.
Once again, I can re-iterate there is no such Government plan to shut down post offices. The reality is that, unless there is a compelling case, the Government does not want to see a single post office closed. And the Government welcomes the fact that, although 197 post offices were closed between 2006 and 2010, only 17 closures have occurred since 2010.
The recent adverse headlines have been generated by a consultancy report commissioned by the Irish Postmasters Union that presumes a loss of social welfare business and calculates that such a loss would in worst case scenario lead to the closure of a significant number of post offices.
In fact, An Post recently won a 6-year contract to handle social welfare payments through the post office network and the large investment in computerisation made by An Post in all post offices means that the network of post office contractors is well positioned to become the front office provider of choice for government and the financial services sector.
It is a modern day reality, however, that technological change, consumer choice and expectations and the actions of An Post’s competitors will give rise to further significant challenges over the coming years. The priority for Government is that An Post is in a position to compete for and win contracts for payments services independent of the technology platform.
On 25 February, I announced that a whole of government consideration of the nature and extent of services that can be provided to the public using the post office network as a front office of government would be undertaken, in the first instance, by the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy. I hope that the Committee will make further progress on a holistic approach to sustaining and developing the network consistent with European law. A timeline of within six months is envisaged for the conclusion of the Cabinet Committee’s work.
The Standard Bank Account project is a matter for the Minister for the Finance. The Financial Inclusion Working Group, chaired by the Department of Finance, and including stakeholders from other Government Departments, the Central Bank of Ireland, retail banks, An Post, the National Consumer Agency and voluntary sector organisations will work closely together on the finalisation and roll out of the Standard Bank Account. I am confident that, when introduced, Standard Bank Accounts will be accessible at Post Offices.

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