Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Bill 2026 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14 ============================================================ Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal The Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Bill 2026 is a short amendment to the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983. Its purpose is to enable the payment of the agreed funding from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport Vote to An Post in order that An Post may then in turn disperse this funding to postmasters across its network. The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout the country. Members will be aware that under the programme for Government, the Government committed to continue providing the nationwide network of post offices with funding, to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. I am very glad to have been able not only to secure continued future funding in line with this commitment, but to provide funding at an enhanced level of €15 million per annum, a 50% increase which was approved by the Government in January. While this may be a short piece of legislation, it has a big impact. The approval provides a clear mandate for this enhanced funding and my Department is working to ensure that the required structures are in place as soon as possible in order to commence providing the funding. In line with the programme for Government, the funding will support the stability and sustainability of the nationwide network of post offices, thereby protecting and nurturing a commercially focused post office network. The principles under which the funding model will operate include maintaining access to the network across urban and rural Ireland, ensuring that no community is left behind; aligning individual funding with criteria, including the degree of isolation and the sustainability of each post office; ensuring a minimum revenue threshold for post offices; and recognising offices of cultural or geographic significance, such as those on inhabited islands or in Gaeltacht areas. The most remote rural and vulnerable communities will benefit proportionately more from the increased funding, thereby helping to safeguard essential infrastructure where it is needed most. The average payment to rural post offices will increase by 78%. The average payment to urban post offices will increase by 44%. Offices located more than 15 km from the next nearest post office will receive the largest increase in funding, at 125%. All postmaster-run post offices will receive an increase in the previous funding with a minimum uplift of €2,000. An Post has statutory responsibility for the post office network. It must actively explore opportunities to develop new or enhanced product lines for the network. This funding provides time and space for the network to navigate global headwinds and develop new commercial initiatives and services to attract customers, drive footfall and generate growth. I am pleased to note that An Post has advised me that transactions in the network are up by 10% this year, year on year, and postmasters' earnings are up approximately 15% so far this year. The network is a core strength of An Post and the continued development of the network and its services is a vital component to its sustainability. Supported by the Government, An Post must ensure the network's viability. Decisions relating to the network, including those relating to specific post offices, are operational matters for the board and management of An Post and not ones in which I have a function. Furthermore, the terms under which postmasters contract with An Post is a matter between the postmasters and An Post and any negotiations are a matter for both parties directly. The sole purpose of the Bill before the House is to provide a statutory basis for funding to be paid from the Department's Vote to An Post. The Bill provides for a small technical amendment. Section 1 amends section 29A of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, as amended, to increase the amount of funding the Minister can provide for the post office network from the current ceiling of €30 million, which has already been provided, to a new ceiling of €105 million, which is an increase of €75 million. The Bill will be commenced upon enactment. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to the network and to the value it provides to citizens with the allocation of this €15 million per annum for the term of the Government. However, I encourage all stakeholders to work together to ensure long-term sustainability for the network. All citizens should be encouraged to use their local post offices so we can continue to see them thrive. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for facilitating all Stages today so we can have the Bill passed before the summer recess, given the importance of this funding reaching An Post to be provided to post offices across the country. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-14/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:15+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-07-14