It is stated on page 48 of the programme for Government that social welfare payments at post offices will continue to be encouraged. Just last week, the Irish Postmasters Union called for a long-term commitment that these payments will continue to be transacted through our post offices. It also called for a timeline for new services under the investment plan for post offices to be made available as soon as possible. Will the Taoiseach give a long-term commitment that social welfare payments will continue to be transacted through our post offices? Will he intervene with An Post to ensure a detailed plan and a timeline for the new services to be made available in our post offices are put into the public domain as soon as possible? We must do all we can to protect all our post offices. They play a vital role in our communities and feed into the economic activity in our towns and villages. It is vital that every step is taken to protect them and I call on the Taoiseach and the Government to do just that.

I totally agree. We absolutely are making sure that we invest in our post office network. There has been a major transformation in the company's public finances in the past year since the new management has come in and started to manage change within the network. The commitment of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection involves a very substantial annual contract, which was awarded and signed only recently, on the basis of continuing payments for people who want to receive their weekly social welfare payment through the post office. My colleague has a plan to ensure we look at other options available across Government so that we can use the post office network to its fullest extent.