RESIDENTS in parts of the Ibane peninsula were without post for three weeks, while a post box in Allihies was out of order for a month, a council meeting heard this week.

Calling for an improved postal service, councillors listed several issues at a meeting of the local authority.

A joint motion was tabled by Clllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) and Cllr Cathal Rassmussen (Lab).

They called for the chief executive of An Post and the Minister for Communications, Patrick O’Donovan to appear before an Oireachtas Committee to address the current situation in An Post sorting offices.

Cllr Harrington said An Post deliveries are not arriving as they should be and the ongoing delays are having a particular impact on small and medium-sized businesses.

‘Delays mean late deliveries, unhappy customers, refunds and ultimately the loss of income,’ said Cllr Harrington.

‘These delays are not the making of post office staff on the ground and they are coming under increased pressure. They are now doing more than ever but the system is not supporting them.’

He noted that Allihies, which lost its post office, was without a post box for more than a month as it was out of order.

‘This is totally unacceptable,’ he said. Cllr Harrington also raised the case of a gun owner who sent his €5,000 rifle scope for repair to the UK via registered post.

As reported in last week’s Southern Star, he was told it was missing and was offered €160 in compensation.

‘In another case, an elderly person sent a very important application form containing sensitive personal details by registered post only to be told that too has been lost,’ said Cllr Harrington.

He said one man was waiting for a work permit which was issued in early February and was only delivered last week.

‘As a result he was unable to travel as planned and had to forfeit his return ticket to Ireland as he didn’t have the required documentation to travel.’

Cllr Harrington added he knows one small business owner who has opted to deliver more of his products personally to his customers at huge expense due to postal delays and uncertainty in the postal system.

‘Responsibility must sit soley with the senior management of An Post and greater investment is needed.’

Cllr John Michael Foley (FG) pointed out that they have only one post office open in the whole of the Ibane peninsula which he said is a big area.

‘A number of times over the last couple of months there were households in that peninsula where there was no post at all for just over three weeks.  That’s a long time for SMEs and farmers waiting for cheques especially during the winter,’ said Cllr Foley.

He added that there was no delay with post in the villages and that as a resident and business owner in Timoleague village, his post has always been delivered by the hardworking An Post staff with no delays.

Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) pointed out that one estate in the Carrigaline area has had no post over two weeks, while another estate said they haven’t seen a postman there in over a month.

Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) said that where she is living they see post every day but that other estates in her area haven’t received post in two weeks.

‘There needs to be greater efficiency and that has to come from the top down,’ she said.

Councillors said postal staff are under extreme pressure and that the retention of staff also needs to be tackled by An Post management.