I thank the Chairman for receiving our delegation and the Oireachtas Members from Carlow-Kilkenny who made representations on our behalf so that we could appear before the committee. I also thank the spokespersons from the Labour Party and Fine Gael for their assistance prior to our arrival.
I will briefly outline our campaign thus far to retain the status of Muine Bheag, Bagenalstown branch post office as the main post office. We established a committee in October 2005 to campaign for the retention of the status of Muine Bheag branch post office. This was on foot of a letter I received from the chief executive of An Post, Mr. Donal Curtin, which confirmed its intention to downgrade Bagenalstown post office. We then set about gathering signatures for a petition. We gathered 3,200 signatures by standing outside the post office in Bagenalstown for two days and from a door to door campaign. We also received expressions of support from the business community. There was practically universal support for our campaign to retain the status of Muine Bheag branch post office.
In December, we staged a protest outside the Dáil which coincided with a meeting with officials from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources at which we outlined our concerns vis-à-vis the post office in Bagenalstown. In April, we met the area manager, east, of An Post, Michael O’Sullivan. At that meeting, we outlined our arguments for the retention of the status of Muine Bheag branch post office. We outlined our concern that any diminution of status would result in a diminution of service. Mr. O’Sullivan sought to allay our fears and assure us that there would be no diminution of service with the diminution of status. I would have to contest that view, however, by evidencing and instancing the fact that school teachers who are superintending for the junior and leaving certificate examinations in Bagenalstown can go to the post office and drop off their examination papers. Next year, if Bagenalstown post office is downgraded, that will not be possible. That is a diminution of service.
If there is a downgrading, there is a strong likelihood that there will be a relocation. If this post office were to be relocated in a corner of a supermarket or down a side street, that is, as we see it, a de facto diminution of service. Such a development would impact on the dignity and privacy of elderly welfare recipients who use the post office to collect their weekly benefits. Hence, we cannot accept these assurances.
Bagenalstown is a very busy post office, which is evidenced by the fact that there are constant queues there every day. When one tries to enter the post office to avail of its many services, one often cannot get in the door for the queues of people inside.
As regards the statistics, some 875 customers are paid by personalised payable orders, 465 are paid by AIT, and 647 customers receive child benefit payments in the post office every month. It is extensively used by the business community, the general public and foreign workers. Bagenalstown is experiencing an increase in population, which is predicted to double from 3,000 to 6,000 in the coming years. The post office also serves surrounding villages and the rural population. There are current and imminent housing developments. A total of 744 housing units are being built or are due to commence in the near future. This is from where the population growth is coming.
On the economic front, a relatively new business park is attracting large investment, which is great news for the town. It will result in increased business for Bagenalstown branch post office. Bagenalstown has been recognised as a growth centre in the national spatial strategy. Recently, an application was made for a €100 million business retail development on the outskirts of the town. This will result in a large volume of business for the local post office. In addition, there has been a rejuvenation of the town centre. One wonders whether An Post has listened to our concerns or taken account of those facts relating to population growth and business expansion in Bagenalstown, which will result in extra business for the post office.
Economic development for Bagenalstown must be good for An Post's branch post office there. The location of the post office is another centrally important issue for our committee. At present, it is at the centre of economic activity in the street. It is a perfect central location and user-friendly. People can walk to the location if they do not have cars. Parking is available, although it is becoming increasingly difficult to park one's car. That is, however, a separate issue.
The post office is one of the town's historic buildings and part of our architectural heritage. In 1915, the post office developed a contract with the owners to lease the building for 95 years. The lease has been running for 91 years and it runs out in four years' time. It is a listed building, so what will An Post do with it if the company relocates to another premises?
We have repeatedly asked An Post for figures concerning the level of trade at Bagenalstown post office but we have been constantly refused that information. We have tried to obtain it through the Freedom of Information Act but have been refused. We have asked Mr. O'Sullivan, area manager — east, directly but he has refused to supply it. Surely the people of Bagenalstown have a right to know what is the level of trade at their local post office. People are incredulous that their post office can close. It is perceived as being a very busy place and they cannot understand why it is being downgraded.
The licence to operate a sub-post office was advertised recently. The deadline expired on 12 June last. We accept with regret that An Post will carry through with its intention to convert Muine Bheag branch post office to a sub-post office. We wish to see An Post diverting a small portion of last year's trading profits — €16 million last year, as we were told today, and €6.5 million for the previous year — into the renovation of its premises in Bagenalstown. The successful applicant for the new service should operate it from the same address. We feel that An Post has a public duty to maintain the service to a high standard in a central location. This is evidenced by the support the campaign has received. We do not want to see An Post buying out the freehold of the building in four years' time and selling it on for a huge profit while Bagenalstown is left with an inferior postal service and long-term uncertainty.
There have been developments in other post offices throughout the county. The service in Ballon was recently downgraded to a postal agency. Business interests in the area are now obliged to travel to another town, miles away, to post their parcels. This is a discouragement for any new business setting up in that small town. If An Post is serious about rural Ireland and decentralisation, it should be supporting these services instead of allowing them to be downgraded.
Tullow post office been subjected to four robberies in recent times so the people running it have decided to get out of the business. That is also being advertised to be run as a sub-post office by other people. The postal service in Tullow now faces uncertainty. We are afraid that, in the future, Bagenalstown will also experience the same level of uncertainty and we are not prepared to accept it.
