Sinn Féin TDs Conor D. McGuinness and David Cullinane have said Government must ‘get real’ as eight post offices in County Waterford have closed over the past decade, as new figures confirm that 257 post offices across the state have shut their doors during the same period.
The figures were obtained by Deputy Cullinane in response to a Parliamentary Question.
Raising the issue in the Dáil this afternoon Deputy McGuinness said:
“It is deeply concerning that eight post offices in County Waterford have closed in the last ten years, as part of a wider pattern that has seen 257 post offices disappear across the state.
“The loss of services in communities such as Bonmahon and An Rinn shows the real impact of these closures at a local level. For many people the local post office is where pensions are collected, bills are paid and neighbours meet. When it closes, a vital community service disappears.
“The local post office plays an important role in Irish life, providing financial services, access to the social welfare system, communications infrastructure and community supports. In many areas it is one of the few remaining public services available locally.
“There is widespread concern that current contract terms are not fit for purpose and are failing to attract new operators to take over services when long serving postmasters retire.
“Without a change in approach the network will continue to shrink and more communities will lose their post office. That would be a serious blow to social cohesion, particularly in rural areas.
“Government cannot continue to ignore the crisis facing the post office network. Communities deserve a clear plan to protect and sustain these vital local services.”
Deputy Cullinane said:
“These figures highlight the scale of the challenge facing the post office network across the state.
“In Waterford City we have also seen the closure of the Barrack Street post office, which served a large and established community. When services like this are lost it has a real impact on people who rely on them every week.
“What is needed now is targeted, strategic investment and a renewed vision for the network that puts public service and community needs first.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 