The country's TDs and ministers are to vote on a motion put forward by Co Tipperary's Seamus Healy which is aimed at retaining the post office network.

The motion was introduced by Deputy Healy in response to concerns that the government is trying to wind down the number of social protection transactions the post office handles in favour of bank-related epayments instead. 

The motion calls on the government to produce a comprehensive action plan setting out the measures designed to extend and protect the post office network and to ensure that the post offices will benefit from e-payments system. 

The debate will take place over an hour and a half tomorrow and Wednesday evenings followed by a vote .

A Co Tipperary TD has called on the Commission for Communications Regulations to investigate what he terms as the neglect of line infrastructure under the supervision and contol of Eircom.

Deputy McGrath was speaking after recieving a number of representations from business owners and individuals experiencing serious delays in the restoration of their mobile, internet and land lines.

While advising people who experience undue delays to contact the communications regulator ComReg, he also had a word of critism for the body itself,  describing it as a "toothless" and unwilling to press the issue effectively with Eircom