Open letter to Denis Naughten TD on why PO review not ready
Dear Minister Naughten,
I write to you on behalf of the Save Ballygawley Post Office Campaign. Ballygawley Post Office was served with a review notice on the 11 th November 2016 following the untimely death of the local Postmaster Colm. A temporary contract is currently in place with Colm’s wife Antoinette. Minister, in March 2017, An Post’s Chief Executive, Mr Redmond is on the record stating the national review of An Post should be completed in a number of weeks. Now we find ourselves in January 2018, after a €30 million investment by the state and tax payer in An Post and after an increase in postage rates we are still no further on in terms of a completion date for the review.
A letter dated 15 th August 2017 from Mr Tom O Neill, Head of Contractors and Retail Support, An Post, reiterated to our working group that “no decision would be made on the future of Ballygawley Post Office until such time as a nationwide review has been completed”.
This review is said to take into account shifting demographics, the changing marketplace for services and the economics for postmasters.
I attach a reply from An Post which I have received today. It beggars belief. The story line remains the same.
It is totally unacceptable that a commercial company after getting a bailout of €30 million from the Irish taxpayer cannot confirm when its national review is to conclude and be published.
It seems to me that the management of An Post are intent in not communicating transparently with its customers and I would urge you as Minister with responsibility for our postal services to ensure transparency with the review.
Minister Naughten I ask you;
What are the terms of reference?
When will the review be completed?
When will the review be published?
Who is commissioned to undertake the review? Under what conditions and terms was €30million approved as a loan to An Post from the state?
Minister, I thank you in advance of reply.
Kind Regards
Thomas F Walsh 25 The Lodges, Castledargan, Ballygawley, Sligo.