Sub-post offices ‘face extinction’ without social welfare contracts

THE country’s remaining sub-post offices could face extinction because more and more social welfare payments are being processed through banks, Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) president Joe McArdle has said.

Speaking at the IPU annual conference yesterday, Mr McArdle, a postmaster in Co Louth, said: “The actions of the Government in encouraging more and more social welfare claimants to divert their payments into bank accounts through electronic fund transfers is threatening the future viability of the post office network.”

However, An Post has reached agreement to process payment of garda fines, and he said the possible creation of a new banking operation in conjunction with Belgian bank Fortis “has the potential to be a major shot in the arm for the post office network”.