Post Office Network critical for local business during and after COVID-19 Postmasters have called for clarity on the future of hundreds of Post Offices – and what action Government will take to support the Network. Speaking at the Irish Postmasters’ Union AGM this weekend (by virtual meeting), General Secretary Ned O’Hara said an ‘inject and spend’ approach to the economy was central to Budget  2021. He said Post Offices provide a core asset of national infrastructure through which to support local businesses and economies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic – and Government must take action to secure this. A report commissioned by business advisors Grant Thornton, published in September, […]

SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENTS TO RETURN TO WEEKLY  Postmasters to seek Government response to Post Offices report Postmasters today welcomed a Government decision to return to weekly collection of all social welfare payments at Post Offices.  The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) has received confirmation from the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys that the Department is set to announce the change this week.  The change, which is due to come into effect in late October / early November, will give all Social Welfare recipients the choice to collect any payment either weekly or every two weeks at their Post Office. Customers can clarify any changes to their collection details with their local […]

Report says Post Office Network continues to return strong economic and social value ‘Collapse of Post Office Network’ if State support not introduced urgently  An annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) for the Post Office Network of €17m has been recommended in an independent review by business advisors Grant Thornton. READ the full Grant Thornton Report. The report Review of the economic contribution and financial sustainability of the Irish Post Office Network, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU), recommends that the Government invest with urgency in the Post Office Network, as it provides a multi-fold economic and social return to communities, far in excess of the PSO requirement. The report […]

COVID-19 impact on Post Offices affecting local economies Weekly collection needs to be offered for all welfare payments Transactions in Post Offices are estimated to be down by 25% – heightening serious viability challenges facing the Network. Postmasters today warned that coronavirus is having a very serious negative impact on transactions in Post Offices, and by extension cash spending in local economies. The Irish Postmasters’ Union today called for people to be offered the choice to collect social welfare payments either weekly or every two weeks. A comparison of transactions for the month of August comparing 2020 with 2019 by Postmasters estimated that Post Office business was down by 25%. As […]

Postmasters today urged a full return to weekly collection of all social protection payments at Post Offices. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) said that these transactions must return urgently to help people manage their finances – and to keep struggling Post Offices open in communities. The call was also supported by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP). Collection of all social protection payments at Post Offices were reduced from weekly to every two weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the lockdown measures. The IPU welcomed a move by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to reintroduce some payments on a weekly basis from August 17th. […]