Union demands computers in all post offices to help collect fines

FOUR hundred sub-post offices will not be able to accept payment for speeding fines next year unless the Government provides them with computers, the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) warned yesterday.

The IPU welcomed the announcement that An Post is to take over the collection of fines for speeding, seat belt and other offences from the gardaí from early next year.

The majority of the country’s post offices (93%) are run by IPU members and they welcomed the extra business yesterday because many of them are struggling to survive, said general secretary John Kane.

“But 400 of the 1,350 post offices nationwide are still not automated, so customers will not be able to pay their fines in these sub-post offices, which are mostly in rural areas,” Mr Kane said.

The IPU has been asking for computers to be put in sub-post offices for some time but An Post says it cannot justify the cost because it is not generating enough business.

Now the IPU wants the State to underwrite the cost of providing the computers because it says people living in remote rural areas are as entitled to avail of this service as those living in the middle of cities and towns.

The IPU is to make a submission to the Oireachtas Communications Committee in February outlining the demand, saying it would generate more business and pay back the cost of installation.

“If the entire post office system was automated we could make a better case for more Government business, like the processing of motor taxation,” Mr Kane said.

A spokeswoman for Communications Minister Noel Dempsey said yesterday that he would consider the request when it comes before the Oireachtas Committee in February.

But An Post said it could not provide the computers. “These offices only carry out 5% of all the business handled in sub-post offices nationwide and it would just not be economically viable to automate them,” said a spokesman.

An Post welcomed the additional business of processing speeding fines, but the spokesman stressed that this was not the panacea to all the company’s problems.

“We will get a transaction fee for each fine processed but the only way we will bring down our costs is to reform our collection and delivery service that is currently too labour intensive.”

The company made operating losses of €43 million last year but it is hoping to break even this year with the benefit of once-off income like the June elections revenue and a freeze on recruitment.

An Post has also secured the contract for processing TV licences for 2005 but another company may win the tender the following year, its spokesman said.

“Staff will be provided with training for the new system and we are hoping to attract additional Government business - possibly the motor tax renewal contract following a successful pilot scheme in Cork,” their spokesman said.