Heather Humphreys, TD

I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate. The decision by the Department of Social Protection to issue a new tender this coming September for paying social welfare benefits could, if implemented, see the closure of up to 400 post offices. This would have a devastating effect on rural communities. Bank branches in rural areas have already closed. I am concerned that this will continue not only in many villages, but also in substantial towns. It is possible that, within a few years, bank branches will only be located in cities and large provincial towns.

I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate. The decision by the Department of Social Protection to issue a new tender this coming September for paying social welfare benefits could, if implemented, see the closure of up to 400 post offices. This would have a devastating effect on rural communities. Bank branches in rural areas have already closed. I am concerned that this will continue not only in many villages, but also in substantial towns. It is possible that, within a few years, bank branches will only be located in cities and large provincial towns.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is expected to conserve energy by way of home or commercial building insulation...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total expenditure on waste water treatment approved for County Kildare in each of the past five years to date...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he and or his Department had identified the full extent of capital investment required to augment/upgrade and or otherwise improve the sourcing, transmission and storage of domestic water supplies...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which air pollution continues to be monitored on an on-going basis throughout the country...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which it is expected to conserve energy by way of home or commercial building insulation...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total expenditure on waste water treatment approved for County Kildare in each of the past five years to date...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which he and or his Department had identified the full extent of capital investment required to augment/upgrade and or otherwise improve the sourcing, transmission and storage of domestic water supplies...

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which air pollution continues to be monitored on an on-going basis throughout the country...