A local councillor says the closure of 17 post offices in Donegal including 7 in the Inishowen peninsula will have a detrimental impact in rural communities, while An Post denies attacking rural Ireland.
In Donegal, An Post have reveal that the offices listed for consolidation include Ballyliffin, Ballymagan, Brinlack, Bunbeg, Burnfoot, Burtonport, Churchill, Culdaff, Culkeeny, Dunaff, Dunfanaghy, Dunkineely, Gortahork, Kindrum, Meenaneary, Quigley’s Point and Rossnakill.
The CEO of An Post has stated that every community with more than 500 people will have a Post Office under the reformed network.
However, local councillor Albert Doherty says the population figures in Inishowen villages do not reflect this promise for rural Ireland.
The Sinn Fein Cllr stated: “There is no comfort in An Post ‘s assertion that 100 of the post offices due to be shut are in ‘remote areas’ and An Post are failing in Inis Eoghain delivering their commitment that communities of more than 500 people would have a Post Office.”
Cllr.Albert Doherty instanced eligible voter numbers in the current register of electors in four electoral divisions namely, Ballyliffin (686), Culdaff (795), Culkeeny (544) and Dunaff (476)
“These figures belie An Post’s commitments to Rural Communities,” Cllr Doherty said.
He added: “Government have responsibility to ensure the sustainability of the post office network however a greater pursuit and responsibility must be the future sustainability of vibrant serviced rural communities.”
Cllr Doherty has called on the Government and An Post to highlight the option for communities to apply for a new licence when postmasters retire.
He said: “The Protocol added to the agreement between An Post and the IPU which leaves it open for others in the seven areas in Inis Eoghain where a postmaster/postmistress has retired to make an application for a new licence should be highlighted by Government and An Post and where pursued, sympathetically considered to enable a vibrant sustainable livelihood for families in rural communities.”
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