Postmasters demand An Post action

The Irish Postmasters' Union says the country's post office network is doomed unless An Post management acts to get the company back in the black.

The union - holding its annual conference in Castlebar this weekend - said the semi-state body must face market realities.

But they have also called on Communications Minister Noel Dempsey to subsidise the cost of the postal service's "social dimension".

John Kane, the secretary general of the Postmasters' Union said, "The post office network is in rag-order. It's under serious threat from a number of sources, not the least of which is the possibility of social welfare (payments) disappearing on us over the next of years, which is our single biggest customer, representing about 60% of our transactions," he said.

He warned if there is any further diminution of service, besides the loss of the social welfare business, the post office network is doomed.