An Post was in the news this week, and thankfully it has clarified that its financial position is better than previously reported. The real issue here is the closure of post offices throughout the country. Since 2015, 34 post offices have closed in Cork county and 257 post offices have closed nationwide. As we know, a post office provides much more than just a service. It is a core part of community life in many towns and villages throughout the country. It provides a social outlet for many of our citizens, which is critical to combat loneliness and provide social interaction. We need to do more to support our post offices. Postmasters have a very active role in promoting the survival of post offices and encouraging the Government to do more to support them. I ask that we actively engage with the postmasters and others to try to ensure the future and sustainability of our post office network throughout the country.

I thank Deputy McGrath. He is entirely right. The postmasters have, quite rightly, been vigorously engaging with us. This is an issue of concern for them and I assure the House and the postmasters that the Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and a sustainable post office network. We see it as a key component of economic and social infrastructure throughout the country.

The programme for Government we have agreed states the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. My understanding is that an amount of approximately €10 million per annum is being provided by the Government over a three-year fixed term to An Post, which then disperses the funding across the post office network. We will continue to work and engage to make sure we can deliver on the commitment to have a sustainable post office network and to support our postmasters.