Concerns over leaked Post Office report

AN Post has distanced itself from reports leaked to a national newspaper that 80 post offices are to close, mainly in rural areas.

The leak cited losses of €12 million annually, attributed to a downturn in over 500 Post Office branches nationwide. The leak heightens concerns for rural Post Offices in Kerry.

In its statement, An Post said it was completing an in-depth review of the network which will take into account the shifting demographics, changing marketplace for services, and the economics for postmasters. Critically, the statement outlined that ‘no decisions have been made while this review is ongoing’.

Reacting to the news, Kerry Branch member of the Irish Postmasters’ Union, Seamus Ó Lúing from Ventry, said the grim findings could be averted if the proper investment recommended by the Kerr Report was enacted.

“This sort of disregard for the rural Post Office doesn’t surprise me. We’ve been fighting this sort of reaction now for some time and we will continue to do so. The closure of 80 Post Offices would only be the tip of the iceberg without proper investment, as outlined in the Kerr Report,” said Mr Ó Lúing.

He added that The Kerr Report outlines a four-year cost of €58 million to facilitate the transition of Post Offices from their current business model to a newer one, which would make the network more sustainable into the future.

“We spent two years engaging with the Kerr Report and now it appears it’s been shelved. An Post have now commissioned McKinsey to do their own report. What we’re looking for is action on the Kerr Report. This would secure the network and keep closures to a minimum, in town and country,” added Mr Ó Lúing.

Meanwhile, Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said some Post Offices in the county are already earmarked for review as they are in a perilous situation financially.

“When is the government going to wake up? I’ve told them that up to 700 Post Offices will close. There are branches in Kerry that are going to be notified in the coming weeks about cuts,” said the Kilgarvan Deputy.

“The implementation of the Kerr Report only goes along with the whole debacle and it’s as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. I put a motion before the House last November calling for the introduction of community banking. If we don’t do that we’ll lose 700 Post Offices in the next three years,” he said.