On page 41 of the programme for Government, with regard to jobs and rural development, one of the sections deal with the appointment of a new Cabinet Minister whose brief is to advance economic and social progress in rural Ireland and to work to implement best proposals in partnership with the rest of the Government. One of these proposals was to ensure the viability of our post office network and avoid closures in our post office network. Unfortunately, the postmistress in Glengar, County Kerry, passed away on 16 January. Since then the service has been run by her sister in law, who was contacted this week and informed that Glengar post office is to close. If a semi-State body is not implementing Government policy, how do we hope to make progress in advancing the needs of rural Ireland?

The record of this Government and the previous Government on trying to ensure post offices did not close is an awful lot stronger than that of the Government that preceded them. Post offices are a part of rural infrastructure but we also have to work with An Post on different pressures on the overall post office network system. It is difficult for me to comment on a single case unless I have the actual details of it. Two Ministers are very engaged on this issue. These are the Minister, Deputy Naughten, because he has policy responsibility for An Post and the Minister, Deputy Ring, who has responsibility for rural development. I suggest the Deputy tables a question to both of them.