An Post is ignoring offers to keep rural Tipperary post offices open, claims Jackie Cahill

Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill has said that he believes there is a cost-effective way to maintain post office services in six of the eight villages at risk of losing their post office. 

Deputy Cahill was commenting after engaging with existing retailers in six of the villages where the postmaster or post mistress has decided to take the An Post redundancy package.

“There is a strong appetite among the retailers to work to ensure that post office services are maintained.“The retailers see potential for their business to offer the An Post services and are willing to negotiate a very cost effective way for An Post to maintain the service in these villages.

“At a recent Oireachtas Communications’ Committee meeting, An Post stated that they were open to discussing individual cases.

“However, on a number of occasions, I have tried to contact An Post to discuss how this can be achieved but I have received no reply.

“This week, I raised this issue with the Government, and I have now written to the Group CEO of An Post David McRedmond seeking answers.

“To my mind, if An Post refuses to meet with these retailers, it is therefore obvious they are not interested in exploring the possibility of saving these services.

“These retailers can help An Post retain these very important services at very little cost but deliver an enormous benefit for Rural Ireland. I am calling at An Post to engage with me and the retailers in question before it’s too late,” concluded Cahill.