An Post braced for post office closures
Ireland’s An Post is likely to see a significant pruning of it post office network when an “in-depth” review is published in a few months time. In January, a Government-commissioned report spear-headed by business figure Bobby Kerr suggested a range of measures to help the ailing postal operator – including the closure of around 80 post offices. However, reports published in the Irish media last week and over the weekend have claimed that more than 200 post offices could be in jeopardy.
Last Tuesday (7 March), An Post responded to the claims with a statement saying: “An Post is aware of the reports in today’s media concerning the future of the Post Office network. These reports have not come from An Post.
“We are currently completing the first detailed, in-depth review of the Post Office Network for many years. This review will take into account shifting demographics, the changing marketplace for services and the economics for postmasters. No decisions have been made while this review is ongoing.
“An Post’s intention is to produce a plan for a commercially viable and self-funded network which will meet the needs of citizens across the State. We expect the work to be completed within the next couple of months.”
There has be no further official public comment from An Post since this statement. However, An Post’s chief executive David McRedmond sent a letter to postmasters over the weekend in which he made clear that a “fundamental restructuring” was called for – and the work has to begin now.
The Irish media – including independent.ie – published quotes from the letter on Sunday. An Post confirmed to Post&Parcel today that the quotes were accurate.
“The approach the An Post team and I are taking differs from the [Kerr] report in two fundamental respects,” McRedmond said.
“Firstly, the report is predicated on a temporary and uncertain subsidy from Government. Secondly, the time-scale envisaged in the report is to stabilise the network for the next four years after which the problems would be even greater than they are today.
“We cannot and I do not want to delay the necessary fundamental restructuring decisions until 2020.
“Rather, we can complete the work now to ensure that we have a sustainable future for the business, certainty for postmasters, and continue to provide a high-quality service to our customers.”
McRedmond added that he expected “the necessary major decisions to be made before the summer”.
While there have been reports that 200 or even 400 post offices could be at risk of closure, An Post told Post&Parcel that the postal operator itself has not issued any numbers.
An Post’s national network currently has 1,121 post offices. Around 260 of these are in areas of relatively low population – and it is possible that these could among the post offices at risk from possible closure.
Sources report that postmasters’ union is planning to stage a protest at An Post’s office at 11 am tomorrow.
