Page 48 of the programme for Government states that the Government would establish a working group to identify the potential for local post offices to act as hubs to facilitate other services, such as health, transport and a one-stop shop for Government services. Unfortunately we have seen what has happened since that. In my constituency 11 post offices are listed for closure. We all know that people are retiring and that some post offices are not viable. However, some of those 11 post offices are viable.

I am referring to Gurteen and Ballinfull in County Sligo, which set up local committees which surveyed the areas and confirmed without doubt, based on An Post criteria, that these post offices are viable. They have appealed to the review body and have requested the findings of that review body, but they have been refused that. We live in an era of openness and transparency and it is extremely wrong that these people have not been given the findings of that review. I ask the Minister to ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, to instruct An Post to issue those findings to these voluntary groups that have worked extremely hard.

I call Deputies Jackie Cahill and Marc MacSharry on the same issue.

In September An Post was before the Oireachtas communications committee and it gave a commitment on that day that where post offices were closed in villages and towns, if there was an alternative business willing to take on the business of An Post, it would sit down and discuss that with the business. This is not happening. In Littleton, Clogheen, Templetuohy and other villages where post offices are closing, we have businesspeople willing to take on the services but An Post is refusing to engage.

I did not know the Minister would be deputising for the Taoiseach today and it is very good that he is. Deputy Scanlon mentioned page 48 of the programme for Government. I am beginning to wonder if that page is missing from the Government's copy of the particular programme because it gives this wonderful array of issues and resources and activities that will be provided in post offices throughout the country. A couple of weeks ago we passed a motion in the House to reverse the retrograde step by An Post, as negotiated with a private trade union, to close 159 post offices. I was wondering, as the Government is about to set out on a review of the activities of the last few years, with half an eye on an extension to the confidence and supply agreement, will the Minister and his colleague, the Taoiseach, demonstrate their commitment, if any, to the democratic will of this House by making any moves towards reversing that process. Last week I had the opportunity to raise with the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, on a Topical Issue-----

Thank you, Deputy.

I am just finishing. This is very important. I raised with him the fact the review process that An Post is following, in particular for Ballinfull post office, a catchment area within which the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, owns a home-----

Thank you, Deputy. Everybody else's item is very important as well. I ask you to conclude.

-----was flawed to the point that the decision was taken to close that post office four days before the submission was put in. I am sure that, as Minister for Justice and Equality, he could not stand over a process that was as shabby and disrespectful to the people as that one.

The announcement in respect of post offices was made by An Post, not the Government. An Post has given a commitment that there will be a post office in every community of over 500 people and within 15 km-----

That is not true.

-----which is 95% of the rural population, and also within 3 km of the urban population. I am sure everybody in this House will agree the post office network is in need of modernisation and that we need to both maintain and protect a service that meets the needs of communities. I have not yet been speaking to the Minister, Deputy Bruton, but I am sure that, at an early stage, he will be in a position to address the House fully on the Government's plan in respect of rural post offices and the Government's relationship with An Post. I remind Deputies, in particular Deputy MacSharry, that this was a decision taken by An Post following the agreement which was reached between the Irish Postmasters Union executive and An Post.

They do not speak for communities; we speak for communities. Will the Minister be saying next that SIPTU and Irish Water have decided to cut off the water in Sligo? Is that what is going to happen next? Who is driving the bus?

Will you contain yourself, please, Deputy MacSharry?

He is right.

I remind Deputy MacSharry there is an appeals process which his constituents in Ballinfull and others might wish to engage with.

I have just told the Minister it is flawed. The Minister has his own summer house in Ballinfull.

They will not give them the findings of the review. That is the problem. They should do that.