AN Post mail staff are on the move in Mid-Clare, as fresh investment in the mail service will mean the merging of local delivery offices at Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus from next Monday.

Postal staff from the three areas will begin work at a purpose-fitted delivery service unit at Smithstown Industrial Estate and in all, 19 mail delivery staff will be working at the new office, which has, up to now, been the base for An Post’s Shannon mail staff.
An Post’s public affairs officer, Aengus Laverty explained that the development is designed to improve mail services in the area through the consolidation of staff and resources.
He said, “This is an investment in local services and is an amalgamation of the three offices to make collections more efficient. Shannon was by far the best option and scope for enlargement.
“The move is designed to improve mail service and to make it more streamlined and efficient. The mail times will remain as before, as will retail services throughout the area. Mail can still be posted at the local post office. There is no impact whatsoever on post offices in Shannon, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket.
“Customers will not see any change in the service they receive. The new office offers all the benefits, to our staff, of working in a modern, purpose-fitted premises with proper parking and access facilities.”
Local councillor, PJ Ryan expressed the fear that this move may be the thin end of the wedge and wondered if “more was to come down the road for the three post offices”.
“Heretofore all the sorting was done in the respective post offices and there was nothing wrong with that practice. Farming out the sorting of mail and parcels to Smithstown could have a negative impact on the extent of the business conducted at these post offices in the future.
”Furthermore, if people aren’t at home to receive their mail, they will have to travel to Shannon to collect it. That will inconvenience them and it will lead to a delay in delivery times,” he suggested.
Mr Laverty said that parcels, packages and registered letters, not delivered, would be held at Smithstown. However, an advisory note detailing the options open to people who missed a delivery had been circularised in the areas.
“The move involves 10 mail staff from Shannon, five from Sixmilebridge and four from Shannon. There will be no change in the mail times and the move will not affect the operations of the three post offices or lead to a diminution of services,” he countered.