LETTER: Almost 400 post offices facing closure

SIR – A total of 390 community post offices are facing closure, starting this week, while a solution is available.

That’s an average of 15 communities in every county losing their post office. What’s more, these post offices have not been offered new contracts – they have the option to remain on their existing contract with declining income or take an exit package.

And the long-term future of the remaining 690 post offices is not secure.

 Their government contracts expire at the end of 2019, the contract then goes to tender, and there is no guarantee An Post will win it.

 The Kiwi (Post) Bank was established in 2002 in New Zealand, and it now has 20% of the banking market and 25% of all banking customers in New Zealand. It has been described as a phenomenal success.

Kiwi Post Bank made over m profit in its third year of operation and continually makes over m profit annually in recent years.

The Kiwi Post Bank option for An Post was presented by us to the Finance Committee in March 2017.

A thriving profitable post office network is possible and it is the obvious solution to the post office closures issue but securing their long-term future is being ignored.

This issue needs to be raised in the Dáil immediately.    

 Gerry Duddy

Secretary, PBFI

 (Public Banking 

Forum of Ireland) 

Ennis

Co Clare