I welcome the Minister's announcement that he will intervene in respect of accommodation costs. I will change my question. Does he think it is fair that utility companies such as Electric Ireland are incentivising people to go online to pay their bills? People are being asked for a deposit of €300 if they wish to continue paying at their post office. I am really concerned about the impact this will have on post offices. Has the Government examined the impact this will have on the operation of post offices?

As it happens, that question touches on two sections in my Department. I will be honest, in that I think the future of An Post is in the development of a range of new business applications. We are seeing it happening already. An Post is operating as a parcel delivery company and a financial support company for energy refits. The company is increasingly delivering Government services through its network. An Post has turned around in the past two or three years and is expanding into new areas. There will still be a mail system. We have a universal service obligation and it is a critical service. For many people a return to mail may be an appropriate and desirable way of communicating. It is appropriate for those energy companies to offer choice to customers or to favour moving services online in order to reduce their costs and thereby the costs to consumers. I do not see the two concerns as connected.