Plea for reforms as 19 Mayo post offices close in past decade

A Mayo Oireachtas member is lamenting the closure of 19 post offices in Mayo over the past ten years.

Deputy Paul Lawless said in n many rural areas the banks are closing and withdrawing services and face-to-face services and "that is why it is particularly worrying that so many post offices are closing."

On the positive side, however, he cited the example of the village of Kilkelly where the local post office "has stepped up and welcomed the customers who have been abandoned by banks" in Ballyhaunis, Charlestown and Kiltimagh.

He elaborated: "The post office is really important. It provides in-person oversight to payments that no online system can replicate.

"I know of postmasters who regularly and routinely alert An Garda when there are instances of fraud. They alert neighbours when a local does not come in for their pension. That is the value of the local post office that the government has to recognise.

"I spoke to a postmaster recently who outlined that the cost of his alarm system had doubled in the space of a year. Yet, his revenue will not double. In fact, the revenue he receives is static and fixed centrally.

"At the same time as this is happening, there has been a reduction of footfall, as many social welfare payments have now migrated to bank accounts and so on.

"Postmasters can play an important role in counteracting fraud. It is a very important one that is not being recognised by the government.

"We have to plan and reform. The postmasters of Ireland want to provide additional services, such as car tax renewal, renewal of licences and of passports and public services card replacements.

"All of these things can be delivered in the local community but it is important they are allowed and that the services are expanded," he added.