I have two items to raise, one of which concerns the announcement this morning about Grid West. EirGrid is now stating it can put cables underground for certain distances. This issue might be close to the Taoiseach's heart; it is close to his constituency in any case.

There are other ways of raising this matter.

When will the EirGrid Bill be brought forward?

The programme for Government states the Government will protect postal services and ensure communities will have adequate postal services. Does the Taoiseach know that An Post is to increase the price of a stamp by over 8 cent in the coming weeks? This is an awful attack on communities and businesses.

The Deputy knows that it is not in order to raise that issue.

The Taoiseach referred to the protection of postal services in the programme for Government.

Does it refer to the price of a stamp?

It refers to the protection of postal services, jobs in An Post and rural post offices. This is driving people "to hell or to Connacht".

The Deputy was in a Government that was to protect post offices but which closed them all down.

The Government has been in power for a while; it is time for it to start doing something.

The EirGrid Bill will be brought forward next year. As Deputies know, the Government is very much in favour of keeping all post offices open, where possible.