European Court of Justice ruling may end An Post’s social welfare contract

THE European Court of Justice (ECJ) is to issue a ruling tomorrow week that could force An Post to relinquish its annual contract worth around €37 million to make social welfare payments on behalf of the Government.

It is widely expected that the judgement by the ECJ will compel the Government to put the lucrative contract to provide payments to almost one million social welfare recipients out to tender.

Such a ruling could also place a question mark over the future viability of a large number of rural postal offices.