Postmasters encouraged by Minister’s comments on opportunities for post offices

The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) today said it was encouraged by Minister Rabbitte’s comments on opportunities for Post Offices, during a Primetime special last night.

During the Primetime debate on the future Post Offices, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte cited a number of opportunities which he said could be explored to bring new business to Post Offices and help to secure their future.
In particular Minister Rabbitte referred to the IPU’s proposal to develop a Post Office based banking service working with Credit Unions which he described as an opportunity and idea that could be developed.
The Minister also said that providing additional services such as Driving Licence Renewal, Motor Tax Renewal and payment of Property Tax at Post Offices were good ideas which could be looked at further.
IPU General Secretary Brian McGann said Postmasters were encouraged by the Minister’s comments and looked forward to working with him to deliver concrete outcomes.
“The Primetime programme showed the genuine concern that communities have about Post Office closures, and desire that communities have to keep them open, as one of the last services remaining in many villages and towns.
'Postmasters will work constructively with the Minister, and all other Departments, to find solutions and to further enhance the role of Post Offices as the face of Government in the community, and to fully explore the potential to provide an additional banking force.”

Developing the role

The Minister confirmed that he has sent a paper on Post Offices to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Social Policy and written to fellow Ministers requesting them to set out what their Departments can bring in terms of developing the role of the Post Office.
He also provided assurance that people would continue to be entitled to receive their benefits in person at Post Offices if they choose to do so, in spite of the ongoing move towards direct debit payment of benefits into bank accounts.
The IPU is submitting a detailed proposal to the Cabinet Sub Committee this month and due to meet again with Minister Rabbitte in May.

Work constructively

“We have a top class IT system in place in all 1,150 post offices. We are open for business and will work constructively with the whole of Government to secure the services we provide and to provide additional service to communities,” Brian McGann said.
Concern about the future of the post office network follows a recent independent report by Grant Thornton which concluded that significant numbers of post offices nationwide would close by 2017, mainly due to current changes in how social welfare payments are being made.