Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My question relates to rural post offices. I am pleased the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is here this afternoon as he refused to come into the Chamber recently to discuss a Topical Issue matter. This is becoming a pattern among Ministers.

An action committee was set up in support of the post office in Newcastle, An Caisleán Nua, in Tipperary. It worked very hard and submitted what I deemed to be a first class professional appeal to the appeals committee that was set up in An Post by the Minister's predecessor. I and other public representatives got a letter on Monday saying the appeal was rejected and the post office would close on 1 February. The action committee that collaborated with the Minister and his staff has not even had the gratification of receiving a reply yet or a yea or nay. Is this the way the so-called independent review body is dealing with the action groups of decent people set up through public meetings who volunteered to work hard, who are being treated in this shambolic way by the Government and its agents in An Post?

It is as if they have been given a slap in the face without even the courtesy of a letter or a reply. I want the Minister to answer, please.

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