More than 100 post offices face closure in next 12 months

MORE than 100 post offices could shut during this year if An Post continues closing branches at the same rate as it did in 2007, postmasters warned yesterday.

According to the Irish Postmasters’ Union, the number of post offices and sub-post offices has gone down from more than 1,400 in 2006 to about 1,250 at the end of 2007. At that rate the union reckons Ireland could lose a third of its post offices within five years.

The union estimates only about 800 of the network are commercially viable in the current economic climate, and that An Post will have to do more to ensure the future viability of a comprehensive network of post offices and sub-post offices.