Rural Post Offices are under attack - Kelly

Cllr Anthony Kelly during the campaign to reopen the Duncormick Post Office

A Wexford Councillor is calling on the government to put faith in An Post and stop the downgrading of our postal network.  Cllr Anthony Kelly said that he supported giving post offices more responsibilities instead of withdrawing services as the Fine Gael/Labour coalition now plan to do.

"Almost 380 post offices have closed in this state in the last decade," Cllr Kelly said, "Many more have been downgraded.  In many cases the local communities were given no warning that they were about to lose this vital community service, as was the case when the post office in Duncormick closed suddenly in 2012."

"This government is currently engaged in plans that could destroy our post office network forever.  Attempts are under way to move social benefit payments away from An Post.  This would be a major blow to the viability of post offices, especially small rural based ones."

Duncormick Post Office was closed without explanation in May 2012. It has never reopened.

"Pro government spokespeople will say that we have the third highest ratio of post offices to population in Europe.  This may be true but only goes to highlight the social importance of these stations.  In a country that lacks a proper rural public transport service, the local post office has become a vocal point for the community."

"Sinn Féin supports giving our post offices more responsibility instead of reducing their capacity to serve.  An Post should be given the opportunity to take over motor tax renewals, rents and other government payment services.  Withdrawal and lodgement services should also be made available at post offices across the state."