Interim report shows post offices must diversify – Harrington

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the publication of the initial report of the Post Office Business Development Group and has called on interested groups to take part in the consultation process on the report.

“I’ve been a postmaster for 22 years and I know the issues faced by post offices in today’s world. While it has been a very tough few years for post offices, I feel sure that by seizing new opportunities, the post office network can thrive.

“The publication of the interim report of the Post Office Business Development Group is very welcome and points the way forward for the future of our post office network. The Chair of the Group Bobby Kerr has emphasised that our post office network must diversify in order to secure its future and to grow. This is exactly why the Government set up the Business Development Group, to examine opportunities to deliver more government and commercial business through our Post Offices.

“Mr Kerr announced that the full report of the Group will be published in September of this year which is very welcome. In the meantime the initial report is available for consultation. I encourage all interested groups to get involved and have their say. The consultation runs from 16th June to 28th July and the full text of the report is available on the website of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources at:
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Postal/Post+Office+Network+Business+Development+Group.htm

“The Business Development Group is examining four main areas into which the post office network can expand: financial services; government services; social capital and enterprise and white labelling. Some of the ideas proposed include using post offices to pay motor tax, the local property tax, hospital charges and expanding the banking services already provided.

“The opposition parties have shown huge hypocrisy on this issue, particularly Fianna Fáil and those independents who supported them in the last two Governments when the vast majority of post office closures took place without a whimper. The Government has protected the remaining network and has encouraged diversification. It renewed the Social Protection Department contract with post offices and recently we saw the post office develop new business through their contract with Ulster Bank. This new Business Development Group is working on a whole range of new areas into which post offices can expand.   We are committed to the future of the post office network and to see it survive and grow.”