Update: An Post – Communications, Energy & Natural Resources 23rd October, 2014

[Ref No.: 40863/14]

*  To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which An Post may rely on the continued support of Government in extending the scale of its services throughout the country in conjunction with other service providers where possible in respect of the provision of services likely to benefit from the counter services, delivery services and network of post office and sub-post offices throughout the country in both urban and rural settings; the degree to which new and suitable services have been identified in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Bernard J. Durkan.

*    For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 23rd October, 2014.

(660  Received on 20th October, 2014.)

REPLY

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Alex White)
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.

I see a strong future for the network by using its existing strengths to remain a significant player in the provision of Government, financial and other services. Securing the future viability of the post office network in the longer term will entail the network continuing to modernise, as it is doing, to provide the services that its customers require. Any such developments in the network are, of course, a matter for the company in the first instance and would need to be subject to competition and public procurement requirements as appropriate.

A whole-of-government review of the scope for providing additional public services through local post offices is currently underway under the auspices of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy. I recently informed the Committee that my Department is examining the responses received from other Departments and engaging in further discussions with relevant Departments, as necessary, with the aim of bringing a proposal on a proposed way forward to the Committee as soon as possible