Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Investment of €50 million in the network by An Post is based on getting communities to use the enhanced services that their local post office will provide through a modernised network. Key to the future network will be the willingness of us all to use it. The agreement reached by the Irish Postmasters Union is essential to delivering on the renewed vision for the post office network. In negotiations with An Post, postmasters and postmistresses sought both the modernisation of the network and a voluntary redundancy package for those who wanted to leave the business. Talks were concluded between An Post and the IPU in April this year following three months of intensive negotiations.

The agreement was subsequently endorsed by 80% of the members of the IPU. An independent appeals process was put in place to enable communities to have reviewed a decision relating to their local post office. In addition, any retailer in any of the locations of the 159 post offices can apply to An Post to be considered to take over some or all of the services of the closing post office. If a retailer seeks to avail of services and if An Post decides for one reason or another not to provide them, that decision can also be submitted for review to an independent process.

The deadline for receipt of appeals under this process was 31 October. I have been advised that 50 cases were submitted for review by the closing date from 159.

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