Preserve POs for the sake of social inclusion

AN POST informs us that 300 sub-post offices will close this year. In 2006, 44 sub-post offices closed, making a total of 400 closures by stealth since 2002.

At present Ireland has 84 full post offices and just under 1,300 sub-post offices, many of which are experiencing difficult times.

The increased use of electronic funds transfer means fewer people need their local office.

The social welfare contract, worth in excess of 50m annually must be sent out to tender next year. This will seriously threaten the economic sustainability of many post offices.

Charlie McCreevy has proposed to fully liberalise postal services by 2009. This will compel member states to prevent existing operators from engaging in national and cross-border competition.

In 2001, the Flynn report made a number of interesting recommendations, such as the proposal to integrate sub-post offices with existing businesses, mainly local shops. It recommended the development of additional services such as banking and bill payment, as well as the expansion of the delivery of government services.

While the preservation of our network of post offices is partly dependent on our everyday actions and choices, it is also dependent on how we as a society understand the term “public service.”

If our understanding of public service includes promoting social inclusion, then the logic of negotiations between the IPU and An Post changes, and a role for an imaginative government action emerges. If we can accept a social inclusion cost to public services in rural or disadvantaged areas, we could consider the Flynn report’s recommendation of integrating local services and see what room we have to manoeuvre with the EU. Until we accept such an understanding of public services, post offices and other local services will continue to decline in rural areas.

Rev Pat Griffin

Coolroe Upper

Glenbeigh

Co Kerry.