The Government could achieve savings of close to €80m by outsourcing their payments and transactions to the post office network, the consultancy firm Grant Thornton has claimed.

THE threat of a major postal strike in the run-up to Christmas remains a distinct possibility after talks at the Labour Court over the weekend failed to report any real progress.

SEAN MARTIN has been a postmaster in Tramore in Waterford for the past 10 years. He loves his job. While his post office is not as busy now as it during the peak summer months, the seaside resort is still a hive of activity at this time of year.

New proposals have been tabled in Government that could save the country’s sub post offices, many of which are facing an uncertain future.