Postmasters meet Minister to consider postal future

The Irish Postmasters’ Union is meeting the Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey today to discuss the future of post offices.

The IPU is to inform the Minister about the likelihood of further post office closures if Government action is not forthcoming.

John Kane, general secretary of the union, said many postal workers are likely to leave the service as they find it impossible to make a sustainable living.

He said that in order to maintain the current level of 1,400 offices around the country, the Government needs to recognise the social dimension of the postal service, which should, he said, be brought within the gambit of a public service obligation.

Mr Kane said that rural post offices which find themselves unable to maintain sufficient business because of a dwindling population should be supported by a State subsidy.