asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will reconsider his decision about the closing of Athagowlan post office in County Leitrim, as this post office is placed in a mountainous area and if closed will cause great inconvenience to old age pensioners and to the people of that area in general.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Leitrim Post Office.
111.
In view of the trivial amount of business transacted, I would not, I regret, be justified in re-opening the sub-post office in question. It is not, of course, necessary for old age pensioners to collect their pensions personally at a post office.
I am sure the Minister will agree this is mountainous country and it will cause great hardship and inconvenience to many people to have no postal services. There is no transport. It might be just as cheap to keep the post office where it is rather than close it.
I can assure the Deputy it is with the greatest reluctance we decide to close an office, but one must draw the line somewhere as between a social amenity and that which is reasonably economic. Many we retain are not economic, but, in some cases, and this is one of them, it would be ridiculous to continue. There are facilities available and no person will be really inconvenienced to any great extent. Some of the ten old age pensioners may not be too far from neighbouring offices. Subpostoffices are pretty plentiful throughout the rural areas. There is one every few miles. As well as that, old age pensioners can nominate agents to draw their pensions for them.
What is the factor that decides the closing of such an office?
When the post office is doing below a certain amount of business and losing a certain amount of money, it is regarded as uneconomic.
And when there is no cumann secretary in the area.
There are very few areas that have not got a cumann secretary.