Battle won on rural post offices, but not the war

THERE has been a mixed reaction in Clare to a government pledge of €10 million annually over three years to support the post office network.

Tom O’Callaghan from the Independent Postmasters’ Group said “one battle has been won but not the war”, to provide a long-term sustainable future for post offices.

Mr O’Callaghan stressed there must be a focus on new products, capital investment and government services for the network.

“It is crucial that there is an immediate five-year holding plan to ensure there will be no downward revisions of post office incomes,” said Mr O’Callaghan, “otherwise there will be no network to salvage.

“Community Banking must be reinvestigated and developed as a survival option in light of the global economic depression. New Zealand and Germany community banking models should be considered.

“The community and social value of the network, so visibly present during the pandemic, must be recognised as a separate asset to the state, must be protected by the state and must hold a separate currency for the network when tendering for business.

“When the €100 million profit per annum is returned to our communities rather than bank shareholders plus cheaper interest rates, then I will rest.”

“A battle won but the war still to be won,” he said.

Deputy Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of €30 million for the Irish Post Office network but believes more needs to be done in terms of what additional services and transactions can be added to the post office network.

While he welcomed this announcement, he believes more details need to be clarified to support rural post offices in the county.

He pointed out this funding falls short of the annual €12 million subvention sought by the post office network.

“Today’s funding announcement will come as a major relief to the postmasters and mistresses of Clare who have been pleading for more to be done to ensure their survival.

“They’re all singing from the same hymn sheet. We’ve seen the closure of a number of branches around the county in recent years and there has been significant concern that this trend would continue.”

“This can be part of the overall recovery of small business and local communities post Covid-19.”

Senator Róisín Garvey thanked Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for a commitment of €30 million over three years to the 900 post offices nationally, including over 50 here in Clare.

“It will provide the necessary time for new commercial initiatives and services to develop, bringing sustainability and certainty for postmasters,” she said.

“Post offices are not just about the economics, they are an important part of the social fabric of a community.

“This funding acknowledges that and supports the development of a sustainable network of Post Offices that have a social value above and beyond and in addition to the economic value,” she said.