Martin calls for support in saving rural post office campaign

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed a new move by the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) to save local post offices.  Over the last eight years over 500 post offices have been shut.

 

The campaign to save local post offices from closure was launched at a meeting this week organised by the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) and attended by the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Irish Farmers Association, Age Action, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Irish Rural Link and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.

 

Unlike the majority of EU countries, Ireland does not have specific minimum requirements in relation to post office network size and coverage.

 

Cllr Keith Martin says he is pledging his support to the campaign and has called for support for the campaign from Mayo's politicians. 

 

The IPU is calling for the Government and An Post to decide on what size, distribution and quality of network should be available to the public and to carry out any planned closures on a planned and voluntary basis.  The IPU is also calling for post offices to be computerised and adequately resourced and for a commitment from Government to the post office as the provider for the delivery of social welfare payments.

 

Cllr Martin concluded that "Rural dwellers face an increased decline in their quality of life if essential services such as rural post offices and garda barracks continue to close and if rural transport and broadband continue to fail to meet demand.  This campaign is the first step in reversing that decline and it should be supported 100%.  I have contacted An Post, the Minister and the IPU in support of the campaign."

 

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