Deputy Danny Healy-Rae is next. I remind him that questions must relate to promised legislation or the programme for Government.

The Government and An Post are ploughing away with the closure of post offices. The post office in Knocknagoshel has got no reprieve and will not be re-tendered. The people of the village will have to travel to Abbeyfeale in County Limerick. That is what they have been told. Likewise, the post office in Gneeveguilla is being closed and the people of the village will have to travel to Rathmore.

What is the question?

Last night, a big meeting, attended by more than 300 people, was held in Dromod to keep the post office open. It is in the Gaeltactht area so I am asking the Minister responsible to put his shoulder to the wheel. I am also asking my fellow Deputy from Kerry, Deputy Brassil, to ensure that Dromod is included in the confidence and supply agreement.

Will Deputy Healy-Rae give the rest of us a chance?

Will the Taoiseach ensure that Dromod post office in the middle of the Kerry hills-----

The Deputy does not have a monopoly in this House. We have a similar question from Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

The Taoiseach was present during the negotiations on the formation of the Government. As part of the programme for Government, there is a crystal clear commitment to maintaining our post office network. It is true that in Dromod and Mastergeehy last night the talk was of another post office facing closure. A total of 80 post offices face closure by the end of January and another 231 post offices are lined up for closure after that.

I am asking the Minister to act on the Private Member's motion that was passed in this House almost two years ago. Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents all came together to support the motion. I ask the Minister to ensure that the content of that motion is now adhered to in order to save many of those post offices.

The Labour Party supported that motion as well, for the record. The An Post mail centre in Cork, we are told, is now under threat of closure, with the potential loss of 200 jobs. I am asking the Minister if he can confirm that that is the case. It would have a devastating effect on postal services in the southern region.

I also want to raise the issue of the promise that was made in respect of a new post office that was supposed to be tendered for in Kilworth, County Cork, which has not come on stream yet. Does An Post intend to close the Cork mail centre, with the loss of 200 jobs? We need confirmation on that.

I rise to speak about the same issue. There is huge concern about the potential closure of the mail centre in Portlaoise. Some 250 people are employed there, and a further 40 or 50 seasonal jobs are available there during the Christmas period. There is huge uncertainty around its future. This issue has bounced around for two years. There have been rumours about Athlone, Portlaoise and Cork. We need clarity on this, and we need to know where the postal services are going in this country. The mail centres are a vital cog in the wheel of that service. If one is removed the mail services may be depleted. The workers need certainty.

I am speaking on the same issue. It is very worrying. We are coming up to Christmas.

Is the Deputy speaking on the same issue?

Yes, I am speaking about the mail centre in Cork. It is very worrying that there is a possibility that over 200 people will lose their jobs before Christmas. The issue of new equipment was raised, but that will probably never happen now. There will be no investment in Athlone and Portlaoise, never mind the Cork mail centre. I did not want to bring it up here today because I respect people's privacy, but when the news breaks one has to be fair. This is a very worrying thing, especially in the run up to Christmas. Cork is such a big rural area, and if it is let it down in this manner it will be absolutely devastating.

An Post is a commercial State body, and it has been under very severe financial pressure in recent years. It has had to take steps, including increasing the prices of stamps, among other things, to ensure that it can continue to deliver a service. It has negotiated a settlement with the postmasters whereby some post offices will voluntarily close. It has also developed a protocol under which it has given assurances that there will be a maximum distance that people will have to travel. It is ensuring that pledge is honoured in the context of any closures that occur. It also seeks to ensure that where other commercial outlets wish to continue to provide the service there will be an opportunity to do so.

An Post has set up an independent review process, and communities can submit to that independent review. There are two independent reviewers, and they will examine any submissions in that context. I assure the Deputies that An Post will seek to ensure the very best delivery of service to its customers in a way that is consistent with being commercially viable. It has a strong record of communication with its workforce, which it will continue to respect, but it has to develop plans that allow it to continue to be able to deliver on its mandate. That is what it does as an independent body.