Announcing €157m fund ‘puts post office staff at risk’

POST offices raised concerns over increased security risks after the Government announced an extra €157 million will be handed out over the festive season.

John Kane, general secretary of the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU), said workers were worried by the revelation of the increased amount of money circulating through post offices in the run-up to Christmas.

“I understand the minister wanting to dispense good news but I have the gravest reservations about the minister drawing attention to what money is available at a post office at any particular point in time and particularly where there is extra money circulating in post offices for the very reason of security,” Mr Kane said.

“Workers are already vulnerable enough in terms of the kidnappings and the raids there are on post offices without a minister drawing attention to the increased amount of money we are handling.”

The Social and Family Affairs Department yesterday revealed more than one million people are to benefit from a Christmas boost in social welfare payments in the coming weeks.

Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan said a total of €157m would be handed out over the festive period.

The 100% cash increase will benefit more than 855,000 welfare recipients and an estimated 394,000 dependants.

“This bonus payment is relied on by hundreds of thousands of people, and is a lifeline at this time of year as spending pressures increase,” Mr Brennan said.

Bonus payments will be made on the following dates: nNovember 28: Jobseekers allowance (long-term), farm assist and pre-retirement allowance. nNovember 29: Disability allowance.

n November 30: Carers’ benefit, carers’ allowance, State pension (transition), invalidity pension and one-parent family payment.

nDecember 1: Disablement pension, death benefit, State pension, widows’/widowers’ payment, guardians’ payment and blind pension.

The group representing post office workers said it was not consulted before the announcement was made.

“Most post offices and An Post itself will take all the extra precautions that are needed in the context of any extra money being handled in the period,” Mr Kane said, adding he could not reveal security plans.

Earlier this month, several post office staff and their families were targeted by armed kidnappers in a bid to gain access to the facilities.