‘We’ll run postmaster candidates in election’

POSTMASTERS are planning to run their own candidates in the next general election, all of whom are pledging to tackle the fall in post office numbers.

Amid rising concerns over the fate of rural post offices, Ned O’Hara, general secretary of the Irish Postmasters’ Union, told the union’s annual conference that a number of independent candidates had already approached the IPU with a view to standing on the issue.

‘These candidates will be supported by 1,100 post offices across the country,’ he said. ‘If the Government takes the necessary steps to protect the post office network, it may not be necessary for the candidates to run. However, if there is not urgent progress, candidates will be announced after the summer.’

Galway postmistress Seona O’Fegan has already announced her intention to run in the 2016 contest. There are 1,140 post offices in Ireland with the majority operated and run by postmasters. They employ 3,700 people.

An independent report by Grant Thornton last year concluded that hundreds of post offices would close nationwide by 2017, mainly due to social protection payments transferring from cash to electronic funds transfers.

Speaking at the event last night, Communications Minister Alex White said post offices are facing a fundamental shift in the way people conduct their financial affairs.

Between 2006 and 2010, there were almost 200 post office closures.