Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I am seeking time for a debate on the serious warnings by the Irish Postmasters' Union of the inevitable collapse of the post office network and up to 200 branch closures in the near future if the Government does not intervene. We have had report after report and investigation, but the Government is not supporting the network. It is directing business away from the post offices, all of which are sole traders. We badly need a debate on this matter. We are told that by July, 875 postmaster-operated offices will face a challenge due to a reduction of 20% in income. Nobody can sustain that. They have come to the fore, as always, and played a gallant part in fighting Covid and helping people in the spirit of ní neart le cur le chéile, the meitheal. We cannot continue to refuse them support or aid. We need a serious debate in this House regarding the future of our post office network.

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