There are many crises at present. I refer to those relating to housing, mental health, the Passport Office and other areas. I welcome Mr. Tom O'Callaghan, of the Independent Postmasters Group, to the Public Gallery.

Our post office network is forgotten about. Fianna Fáil supported the previous Government by means of the confidence and supply agreement. Now that it is in government, it is paying lip service - not even that - to the private contractors who are operating the post offices. Throughout the Covid situation, they dealt with everything. They ponied up as always. The Government has interfered with them now as regards passports. What is the Government going to do? Will it take any meaningful action to save these post offices? Hundreds of them will be lost to the service. Is mór an trua é sin. It is a great pity because these are the people who are in the communities looking after people daily and looking out for them. They provide that service for a pittance and the Government is paying lip service to them. They are not even being mentioned now. Hopefully, the Government will do something. We have had report after report. We need action.

I too welcome Tom O'Callaghan to the Public Gallery. The Government strongly acknowledges the important role of post offices in urban and rural communities all over the country. Sometimes they are held up as being important only in rural areas but they are important in urban areas too. The Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, has been working on this issue and is about to bring a proposal to Government in respect it. We are conscious that the transformation payments that were in place are due to end at the end of this year. The Government is very anxious to support the post office network. I expect confirmation of a Government initiative with a view to safeguarding as many post offices as possible around the country very shortly.