FIANNA Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has demanded immediate Government action to stop the closure of 150 post offices, including seven in Limerick.
Deputy O’Dea, who is party spokesman on Social Protection, was reacting to last week’s announcement from An Post confirming that it is set to close post offices in every county outside Dublin.
In Limerick, post offices in Athea, Ballyagran, Dromkeen, Kilbehenny, Knocklong, Lisnagry and Mungret will all close their doors.
“The recent announcement by An Post is nothing short of a direct attack on the communities affected and will not be tolerated. These reputed plans to use the retirement package offered to Postmasters and Postmistresses as a means to withdraw post office services, are calculated and dubious,” Deputy O’Dea declared.
“There is no doubt among the people living in the communities directly affected, that these closures send a very message that the State no longer sees these areas as a viable place to live or work and will not be supported to settle there.
“It is well accepted that the level of business transacted in post offices has reduced in recent years but important decisions such as this one move beyond profit margins; rural post offices deliver a service that cannot be measured in profit and loss.”
According to the Limerick TD, the radical closure of a significant section on the network fails to meet the State’s obligation to support rural dwellers.
“The future viability of the rural post office network, including the 150 offices now marked for closure, has been up for discussion for many years now. Fianna Fáil fully supported the Kerr Report but this Government inherently failed progress with a single element of what was contained in it.
“I expect this matter to be addressed in full as part of Budget 2019 discussions with the Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and we will be further raising our party’s great concern directly with Communications Minister Denis Naughten.”
