An Post respond to union report claiming a €17m hole in finances 

Postmaster Tony Wall (left) and Irish Postmasters’ Union General Secretary Ned O’Hara (right) back the recommendations of the report that Government introduce a PSO levy to maintain the Post Office Network. Picture: Conor Healy / Picture it Photography

An Post has responded to a report from the Irish Postmasters Union, claiming the network will collapse unless the State acts quickly.

The report, which was published by Grant Thornton and commissioned by the union has recommended an annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) of €17m for the post office network. It states that urgent government investment is needed, as it provides "a multi-fold economic and social return to communities, far in excess of the PSO requirement."