Penrose requests minister to use post offices for more government transactions

Deputy Willie Penrose has raised with Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte TD, the possibility of making the country's sub post office network more sustainable by making greater use of same."The Irish Postmasters Union has had a comprehensive report prepared by Grant Thornton which outlines in detail the possibility of expanding the range of services provided through the post office network in Ireland and sets out a compelling case in relation to new service contracts as identified."The post office network, which consists of almost 1,150 post offices across the country, is a key natural resource and is a huge retail network. In many rural communities, the Post Office might be the only retail outlet available to people."The post office network has the capacity of easily facilitating additional services, which could be added on to the existing services. The Grant Thornton report identified future services that could be delivered, such as the payment of motor taxation, the extension of the banking services available, and the collection of household charges, and indeed hospital charges."Minister Rabbitte indicated in a reply he gave to me following a Parliamentary Question I raised with him in Dáil Éireann, that he had met with the Irish Postmasters Union, and he had received a copy of the Grant Thornton Report."From a community perspective, it is undoubtedly true that the Post Office acts as the focal point and information exchange that facilitates social inclusion and reduces isolation. We can also play an active role in ensuring that they continue to play a vital part in our communities", Deputy Penrose concluded.In his reply to Deputy Penrose, Minister Pat Rabbitte said:"An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the company the need to further exploit its unique position in this regard and have been supportive of its attempts to diversify its income streams and to win a wider range of commercial contracts offering higher margins. The acknowledgment by the IPU that it is supportive of delivering new services is clearly positive in this regard."In the context of public sector transformation, I have stressed to my government colleagues that the increased use of the post office network should be considered by public sector bodies where this is appropriate."As a commercial State body An Post may bid for business from both public and private organisations in a competitive market. The nature and volume of business that An Post conducts with Government Departments and Public Sector Agencies is, however, in the first instance, a matter for the company and the respective Government Departments and Agencies."