Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I have been trying to raise the issue of the closure of Priorswood post office on Clonshaugh Avenue, Dublin 17, for the past three weeks. On behalf of the people of Priorswood, I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this issue.

Over the past three years, creating a secure, long-term future for An Post has occupied much of the House's time. There was a lengthy industrial dispute resulting in the company's failure to pay national pay awards and the long ensuing struggle in the system of collection and delivery that lasted until the end of 2005. At the same time, grave concerns about rapidly falling numbers of post offices have been expressed throughout the national network. As the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources heard, the Irish Postmasters Union drew attention to the large reductions in the network from approximately 2,000 outlets a decade ago to fewer than 1,400 18 months ago.

Since he was transferred to the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has presided over the closure of a post office once every three weeks. For example, 18 post offices were closed in 2005, including in Brandon in County Kerry, Coolbawn in County Kilkenny, Broadford in County Kildare, Fourmilehouse in County Roscommon, Rathfeigh in County Meath and Killiney in Dublin. ComReg's recently published residential and business postal survey showed that the bulk of Irish businesses continued to rely on An Post and spent an average of €6,000 each in 2005. A total of nine items of mail were delivered on average to each Irish home address per week and five items on average were posted weekly by Irish households. As such, An Post remains a key element of the Irish economy and life. The company recently delivered an attractive leaflet entitled "You Decide, We Deliver" to each household and business in Ireland advertising its reorganised services.

However, for the people of the 18 post office districts that closed in 2005 and my constituents in Priorswood parish, this promise rings hollow. Priorswood is typical of many parishes that have similarly suffered. Four weeks ago, a notice was placed in the post office in Priorswood announcing its immediate closure from 6 March and the removal of all post office services to Clarehall shopping centre in Dublin 13. Senior citizens and recipients of pensions and benefits were stunned by the announcement. Many senior citizens face the weekly trek to Clarehall or northside shopping centres with great dismay, as do mothers of young children and the many customers in the area living as much as a mile from public transport.

Local traders led by our popular local pharmacist, Mr. John Corr, immediately contacted An Post and I to seek a reversal of the decision. Following my discussions with Mr. Matt Lennon and other An Post officials, it became clear that the postmistress of Priorswood had decided on economic and security grounds to relocate to the Tesco-owned Clarehall shopping centre. The closure of Priorswood post office has been a grave inconvenience and terrible setback for the more than 2,000 households of Priorswood parish.

The closest post office, at northside shopping centre, has a large catchment area and long queues are often a feature of its operation. Priorswood post office was clearly a viable operation and the abrupt closure without any consultation with residents, community leaders and public representatives is unacceptable. An Post does not seem to have any rules, regulations or criteria covering post office closures or openings, as I will propose in my concluding remarks. Are there any regulations or criteria and why have I not received them to show my constituents and interested local traders?

The Clarehall shopping centre lies at the southern end of a large new urban development of up to 20,000 housing and ancillary commercial developments called the "north fringe". It is clear that this district needs and will have at least one post office. The residents of Clarehall and adjoining estates are happy to receive a postal service, which is to be welcomed. However, the residents of Priorswood parish feel badly let down by An Post. I was grateful to meet An Post's chief operations officer, Mr. Larry Donald, last Thursday in this building. He gave me a thorough briefing on the Priorswood situation and An Post generally but believed the closure was irreversible. I told him the local Clonshaugh shopping centre traders led by Mr. Corr were quite prepared to open a new post office in Priorswood, which should be seriously considered. I hope Mr. Corr, Mr. Lennon and their colleagues will meet Mr. Donald and his executive team in the coming weeks.

Recently, An Post announced the selection of its financial services partner Fortis from the European mainland, which will give a significant boost to the operation of all remaining post offices. The proposed financial services and products for citizens who never had the opportunity to avail of these in the past is a real possibility and a bright point in the future for the An Post company.

Priorswood parish lies in the heart of the original Northside partnership operation area, having suffered serious social disadvantage, unemployment and associated problems over the past two decades. The people of the parish loved the post office and desperately need a postal service. The new Clare Hall service is now operational and Priorswood is closed but citizens are willing to provide a new service for Priorswood. Action should be taken by Mr. Donald and the An Post management team. Similar consideration should be given to all other areas that wish to retain much-loved post offices.

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