A LIMERICK postmaster has warned that closing post offices will cause huge hardship in rural communities.
Tom O’Callaghan, who represents Postmasters in Limerick, said that a Government action plan is urgently needed.
“The post office network is under serious threat – the network as we know it will be wiped out unless we get Government action now,” said Mr O’Callaghan.
“While An Post has retained the Social Welfare payments contract for a possible six year term, this is only a temporary respite. We need a plan to ensure that post offices play a central role in the delivery of welfare payments and other Government services and we need that plan now.
“The post office network will be decimated if the income from the welfare payments contract is lost,” he said.
The Irish Postmaster’s Union (IPU), which represents 1,100 postmasters throughout the country, has launched a major campaign demanding that the Government produce an action plan to ensure the sustainability of the post office network.
Another major threat to the viability of the post office network is the state savings business accounts which accounts for a third of the income of postmasters. The contract for this is up for renewal later this year.
Postmasters will gather outside Leinster House on Wednesday, February 26 when a Dail motion proposed by the 16 members of the Technical Group of TDs will be voted on. The motion calls on the Government to deliver on their commitment to sustain the network as contained in the Programme for Government.
via Post office network under threat | Limerick Post Newswrite.
