Communications Committee discusses post office closures with An Post CEO

The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture today engaged widely with Donal Connell, Chief Executive Officer of An Post. The meeting included extensive and forthright debate on the decision making processes within the company on closing down post offices.

In his opening address, Mr Connell outlined the challenges facing the company, including dealing with a 30 percent fall in their core mail operations. He affirmed support for maintaining an extensive post office network, providing a diverse range of services to customers across the country. He maintained that, while sub-Post office closures tend to get a lot of attention, significant issues threaten the financial viability of the An Post company as a whole.

Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Our Committee has an important oversight role in considering the policy issues of public bodies. In its network of post offices, Committee Members acknowledged the practical and enriching role An Post has played in Irish life.  The increase in personal savings with An Post throughout the economic crisis is an indication of the levels of trust and goodwill that exists within the Irish public for the company.

“Committee Members take on board Mr Connell’s contention that the Irish postal network is, per head of population, among the most extensive in the EU. In difficult economic times, we understand that some rationalisation is inevitable.  However, across party lines and from wide geographic spread, Members expressed deep concern at the lack of communication by the company with the communities they serve in relation to the closure of rural post offices.

“A strong message from today’s meeting was the imperative for increased transparency and flexibility on the part of the company. Where the future of a post office is in doubt, the Committee believes that business plans be invited to continue the service followed by a trial period of operation of about 12 months, before any definitive decision is made on viability.”

Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
 
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan