Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the An Post mail centre in Athlone. An Post is expected to announce that one of its mail centres is to close. The company has four. There is one in Dublin, Portlaoise, Athlone and Cork. I am disappointed that I have to raise this issue again because I raised it in 2017 with the then Minister.

Athlone mail centre is a purpose-built facility which was built 16 years ago. Its location, at the centre of Ireland, only two minutes' drive off the main Dublin-to-Galway motorway, makes it ideal for ease of access for deliveries entering and leaving the premises.

This mail centre employs approximately 180 staff, both full time and part time. The staff are amazing and go way beyond the call of duty for their job, so much so that for five consecutive years they have won the award of the top mail centre in Ireland.

I ask the Leader use his office to contact the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Richard Bruton, and ask that he do whatever it takes to liaise with An Post to make sure we can secure the facility in Athlone and that Athlone would be part of An Post's long-term business plan.