John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The decision to close another 159 post offices across the State is a continuation of the flawed policy perpetrated by Fine Gael's co-partners in government, Fianna Fáil. However, rural communities across the State will not take this lying down. They are mobilising and planning on fighting back for their survival. It is planned to close the post offices in Donard and Coolboy in my constituency of Wicklow. However, the communities in those areas have other plans because they are fighting for their existence. The local Garda station in Donard has already been closed by the Government's friends in Fianna Fáil. It seems that there are plans to reopen it, but they have been shelved while plans to reopen Stepaside Garda station progress. Those living in rural parts of the State such as Donard are genuinely concerned. The people of the area mobilised and held a massive public meeting which was attended by over 120 people who vowed to fight these flawed plans in order to ensure their own survival.

The plans are flawed because the criteria laid down by An Post refer to settlements. According to census 2016, the settlement area of Donard has a population of 196. However, I do not refer to settlements but, rather, to communities, which is what Donard is. It has a wide geographical area, rather than one small settlement area. That community which includes the Glen of Imaal comprises more than 1,500 people, well exceeding the criteria laid down by An Post for a population or settlement area of more than 500 persons not being left without a service. It is a flawed plan. The criteria laid down by An Post state no person will be more than 15 km from a local post office. However, 33% of the 1,500 people of the Donard community who use the post office there on a daily basis live more than 15 km from Dunlavin, which is where the closest post office will be located under this plan. I spoke to an elderly lady in Donard last week when there was a community mobilisation involving 800 people who signed a petition opposing these plans. She is an independent lady of 93 years of age who will not be able to get to Dunlavin. There is no public transport service and she does not drive. She has her pride and does not wish to be a strain on her neighbours or family. What would the Minister say to this elderly woman? She is one person, but many thousands like her across the State will be affected if the plans go ahead. Rural Ireland is fighting back. It is doing so not for the sake of it but to ensure its survival.

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