700 post offices could shut, warns union

UP to 700 small rural post offices will close in the next five years, the Irish Postmasters Union warned, after Communications Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday ruled out giving them a supplementary income.

Half the current 1,400 postmasters and post mistresses earn less than the minimum wage of €15,500 and the union had asked the minister to supplement their income in recognition of the social contribution of rural and local post offices.

IPU general secretary John Kane said many of their members were earning as little as €8,000 a year and could not continue to survive without a supplement from the State.