Government support for Sinn Féin amendments to save An Post welcome - Pa Daly TD

30 April, 2021 - by Pa Daly TD

Pa Daly, Sinn Féin TD for Kerry, has welcomed news the Government has accepted Sinn Féin amendments to a Seanad motion on the future of An Post.

The Sinn Féin amendments called on the government to introduce a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to secure the future of our post office network and prevent further post office closures.

Teachta Daly said:

'The postal service has been crippled by closures and cutbacks. We need urgent action and significant investment from the government if we don't want further closures.

'Sinn Féin fully supports the call of the Irish Postmasters' Union for a PSO and we have been advocating for this for over a decade.

'Notably, Fianna Fáil also supported a PSO when in opposition and spoke in favour of it during a Dáil debate on a Sinn Féin motion in 2018.

'However, support for a PSO was conspicuously absent from yesterday's Seanad motion brought by Fianna Fáil. It would have been completely hypocritical to call for a PSO and then drop support for it once in government.

'People who rely on their local post office were watching intently to see if Fianna Fáil would renege on their 2018 promise. Fortunately, they did the right thing and supported the Sinn Féin amendments to ensure support for a PSO.

'Since 2018, more than 200 post offices have closed nationwide. In Kerry, these closures included Asdee, Ballinskelligs, Ballylongford, Ballymacelligott, Banemore Cross, Currow, Duagh, Gneeveguilla, Kilflynn, Knocknagoshel, Mastergeehy and Moyvane.

'This is a shocking number of closures which has resulted in the threat of other community services nearby such as bus stops, which are vital to the community. In most cases, the nearest post office is now 8km away.

'Without support of the PSO, the State faces significant levels of unrestrained closures according to a report by Grant Thornton commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union.

'Simply calling on the government is not enough. Now we need to follow this commitment up with action. Without urgent action we'll see more closures.'

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