Rural-proofing of all Government policies was promised in the programme for Government. It was our understanding that rural-proofing was meant to be a commitment by this Government to review and examine all Government policies to ensure that they do not disadvantage rural areas. The Tánaiste has misled the people, especially those living in rural Ireland. In the past two weeks I have attended the closure of Lissgriffin national school in Goleen and I attended the closure of the Ballineen post office. Hickey's foodstore in Kilbrittain has closed and Lordan's butchers in Ballinspittle has closed. Rural Ireland is haemorrhaging badly and the Government is aiding, abetting and assisting instead of stepping in. In recent days Axa insurance customers in west Cork received letters telling them they are closing the branch in Bantry. One customer in Castletownbere was told that if he needed to call to another branch, he could go to the Midleton branch, which is nearly two and a half hours away. This has to stop. With the Government closing 159 post offices, where is the rural-proofing working here?

The Tánaiste on rural-proofing.

First, the Government is not closing any post offices.

Of course it is, for God's sake.

There is an agreement between management-----

Yes, we have had a lot of them in here, and the HSE.

-----and unions in An Post. There is no compulsory closure of any post office. It is a decision for postmasters to make in consultation with An Post.

It was a rotten deal.

There are guarantees relating to proximity to post offices that are also being implemented by An Post. I assure the Deputy that this is a Government that prioritises rural Ireland, and as someone who has lived in rural Ireland for a lot of my life-----

You drive through it.

-----I am well aware of that and the conversations around the Cabinet table. If anything, there is a prioritisation for rural Ireland rather than the opposite, which is what the Deputy seems to be suggesting.

They are on the minimum wage. Postmasters are not being given a choice.