Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the  closures of hundreds of post offices would be devastating for the communities that they serve.

Crowe was commenting following the publication of a report from the Irish Postmasters Union which states that the postal network will have declined by 48% by 2017.

One of the major reasons for the undermining of the position of the post office network is the  possible loss of social welfare services to electronic options now being offered by the Government.

Seán Crowe TD said:

“The post office is a central hub to the life  of many local communities and it is vital that we ensure that the post office service is protected. In many rural communities but not exclusively, the post office is a focal point for social interaction and any potential closures will increase the level of isolation and loneliness.

“Of course an electronic option should be offered to Social Welfare recipients. but we must also be mindful of a large demographic that cannot access this option due to a whole range of reasons, not least the underdevelopment of our broadband network.

“The Irish Postmasters Union and the Communication Workers Union have both stressed that An Post needs to be protected against attempts to downgrade or to privatise the service. They also highlighted in the report the opportunities that exist for the postal service and post offices to expand their existing range of activities. For example, the recent spate of closures of bank branches makes the post office an even more attractive alternative for financial transactions.

“Sinn Féin supports the retention of social welfare payments in Post Offices, as part of a wide suite of financial services, to help ensure their viability. Post Offices  serve a vital economic role in irish society but equally important a social role. Every effort needs to made by Government and policy makers to enhance their role and keep them open into the future.”

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