IPU: Postmasters face challenges

Irish postmasters have warned that swift action is needed from the Government to prevent “unrestrained” post office closures from next month.

Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) General Secretary Ned O’Hara said that a financial intervention must be implemented within weeks or the network as we know it will collapse.

The IPU has written to its members to attend emergency local meetings later this month to discuss all options, including a members’ ballot on a work stoppage.

There are currently 875 postmasters and 45 An Post operated post offices in the country. “Postmaster operated offices face a major challenge from 1 July, as a significant reduction in payment rates (an on average fall of approximately 20 per cent) will take effect,” said Mr O’Hara.

He said the challenge is further compounded by rising viability pressure in recent years made worse by Covid-19.

A report commissioned by the Irish Postmasters’ Union from business advisors Grant Thornton, and published last September, warned of “unrestrained post office closures” from July 2021.

Grant Thornton’s analysis recommended an annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) of €17 million, which it said would represent strong overall value for money for the State.

In 2018 a national plan for the Irish post office network was launched giving a commitment to services within three kilometres in urban areas and 15 kilometres or community in all rural areas.

However, the IPU has said this can only be delivered with Government support.

IPU President Seán Martin said postmasters want to provide a solution to the Government for the delivery of all important citizen services in an offline option.

“Postmasters are ready, willing and able to provide many additional services including motor tax, licences, renewals, registrations, identity verification, community information and IT,” Mr Martin said.

A spokesperson for An Post told the Cork Independent that the service appreciates the pressures on its postmasters particularly throughout the pandemic.

The spokesperson told the newspaper: “We have been working with Government on some means of supporting postmasters at this time and then moving ahead on the work of building a successful and sustainable national post office network.”