Matt Shanahan: Defends post office network for rural Ireland
Matt Shanahan spoke about the value and future of the post office network, arguing the Government has neglected it and must make a strategic funding commitment. He urged the Minister to recognise post offices as a national social asset and to put a floor under the service while exploring revenue measures.
Core argument
He said the debate centres on knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing, and argued the Government has in recent years turned its back on the needs of the post office network and on regional and rural Ireland. He stressed many citizens will not shift to e-commerce and continue to rely on local post offices for safe, trusted transactions.
Strategic decision required
He insisted a political and cultural decision is needed on whether the network is a strategic asset and that, if the Government decides to support it, funding initiatives can follow. He argued that a PSO is likely to be required to sustain post office services into the future.
Suggested services and revenue options
He listed services that could generate revenue for post offices, including payments of PUP, motor taxation, driving licences and social welfare payments. He also proposed examining a funding initiative between credit unions and the post office network to channel savings into SME lending.
Local importance and next steps
He emphasised the role of post offices as community hubs where people feel known and secure, and called on the Minister and regional deputies to commit politically to save, expand and future-proof the service. He said once that commitment is made, the Government can implement measures to flow money into the network.
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Good morning, Minister. I think the debate this morning is about an old adage where we know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. It appears to me that the Government has, to a large degree in the last number of years, turned us back on the needs of the post office network and, in doing so, they are turning their back on the needs of regional and rural Ireland. There is a significant grouping of people, of citizenry, who have used post office services for many years and they will not avail of the kind of move to e-commerce that the Government and maybe society is pushing. We need to recognise that in the first instance, in my opinion, and secondly, we also need to see how we can future-proof the post office network for the new modern age. And I think firstly, we must acknowledge that either Government is going to look at this as a strategic asset in the country or it is not. And I can tell you, as somebody who lives in the regions of Ireland and who has large rural constituency bases, I know the value of the post office network and I know the importance of post offices to citizens there who want to do business in the post office, because it is a local community area where they feel safe and secure going, where they are known, where they get recognition and where they value their services. And they have been prepared for years to support the services in their taxes, but unfortunately Government has not. I think the issue is that a PSO is going to be required to support the services of post offices in the future. We can look at other initiatives in terms of paying social welfare payments and all of that, but ultimately this is about a strategic decision, whether Government is going to support the network into the future or not. And that is a strategic decision, it is a cultural decision, it is nothing more than that. And once you make the decision, then you can provide the initiatives that are going to flow money into the post office network. And I am asking you here today, Minister, to seriously look at the importance of post offices in the national social framework and fabric of the country. That is what is required here. There are things I am sure which other deputies have spoken about, as in the payments of PUP, as doing motor taxation and driving licences. There are loads of things we can do. I called in the House here some months ago for an initiative to be looked at between the credit unions and the post office network in terms of providing funding into the SME sector. We have hundreds of millions sitting in credit union accounts that cannot find a way of leveraging interest. And we have people in business who are looking for money and there is a natural efficiency that could be arrived at there. And nobody has the idea or the expression of interest to have a look at something like this. So what I am asking you to do today, Minister, along with the other regional group deputies, is firstly to decide to put a floor under this business and to make a strategic commitment to fund this service into the future. And after that, we can look at all the initiatives that will provide revenue into the service. But first and foremost, it requires a political decision to support and to save and expand this service. Thank you. Thank you.
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