Public urged to make use of post offices

The Irish Postmasters Union today launched a radio advertising campaign urging people to make use of sub post offices to ensure their survival.

The six-week drive is designed to highlight the plight of the thousands of households dependent on sub post offices nationwide.

According to the IPU, there are about 1,400 sub post offices around Ireland, down from almost 2,000 a decade ago.

Most of the postmasters get a gross income of between €10,000 and €12,000 each year from their post office work.

While about 50% of the sub post offices are additional to other businesses such as grocery shops, the other half are stand alone and are the only source of income.

IPU Secretary General John Kane, said: “The simple message is that if we don’t use it (the post office), we will lose it.

“The sub post office is a vital community resource offering a range of services.

“These offices must be used by the public if they are to remain at the heart of our community.”

Mr Kane said people could use the sub post offices to collect their child benefit or pensions, pay their bills, access their AIB accounts, lodge money in their post office savings account or buy stamps for their letters.

The IPU has also been lobbying the Government to acknowledge the public service played by sub post offices, particularly in rural areas, so they can receive a Public Service Obligation subsidy.

Mr Kane said: “Subsidies are needed to computerise ‘paper-based’ offices and to provide income support for those earning below the minimum wage.

“The low income of postmasters is a particular problem in the smaller rural towns and villages.

“It is a disgrace that in this day and age, people who are offering a vital public service are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

The two 30 second ads will be broadcast on 27 local radio stations over the next six weeks.