Sinn Féins local election
candidate in New Ross has said that his party would reopen as many as possible
of the 380 post offices that have been closed in the last decade. Oisin O' Connell said that Post Offices were
of crucial importance to their communities, especially rural ones, and said
that there true potential had never been explored under Fianna Fail, Fine Gael,
and Labour administrations.
"Closing Post Offices is
unfair and unnecessary," Mr O' Connell said, "If the one stop shop
model for post offices was enthusiastically adopted in this state, then not
only would there be no need to shut down further offices, but some of the 380
closed units could be reopened. Closing
them was a terrible mistake and has impacted hugely on local communities."
"The village of Duncormick
lost its post office in May 2012 and has never recovered from it. Even today, nearly two years later, local old
age pensioners have to travel up to eight miles to the next nearest post
offices to draw their benefits. Local
businesses have also been impacted on due to such a large amount of rural
traffic being redirected. Recently a
local bar and restaurant has closed its doors for the last time. The closure of local post offices rips the
heart out of a community."
"Sinn Féin supports giving
post offices more responsibilities instead of taking services away. A local Post Office should be able to provide
for rent payments, motor tax renewal and other government payment services as
well as providing citizens information and documentation. Withdrawal and lodgement services should also be provided."
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