Postmasters’ pass ballot to accept new Post Office Plan

May 11, 2018: Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) members have supported a ballot to accept a new plan for the Post Office Network. The IPU Executive had agreed the plan with An Post, but it needed approval from membership. 80% of members voted to support the plan and 20% voted against. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara thanked members for returning their vote and for their attendance at the nationwide branch meetings. The IPU will now work ahead with An Post to deliver implementation of the plan – and importantly to ensure the roll out of promised new Government and financial services as quickly as possible. Further Information Ronan Cavanagh, Cavanagh Communications: […]


Postmasters to begin Ballot on Post Office Plan

April 23, 2018: The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) is this week to begin a ballot of its members on a new plan for the future of the Post Office Network. The plan was announced last week and has been agreed by the IPU Executive and An Post. It includes a €50m investment in the Network. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara said the IPU Executive was recommending the plan to its members – who would decide in the coming weeks by majority vote. The Executive presented the plan to members at a well-attended meeting in Tullamore on Sunday. Ballot papers are issuing this week with responses due by May 11th. The […]


Postmasters’ Executive and An Post agree Plan for future of Post Office Network

April 20, 2018: The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) has today welcomed the announcement of a new plan for the Post Office Network. Following intensive negotiations with An Post, the IPU Executive has agreed a deal and believes that it represents the best possible plan to sustain as large a Network as possible into the future. The plan will enable the Post Office Network to continue to comprehensively service rural and urban communities throughout the country. For many years there have been enormous challenges faced by the Post Office Network resulting from changes in consumer behaviour, particularly the growth in online transactions. The deal was agreed between the IPU and An […]


Postmasters want Post Offices to retain TV Licence role

4 December, 2017: Postmasters have called for the Post Office Network to maintain a role in the collection of TV Licence fees – which is worth €3m to the Network annually. Postmasters said running the service through the Revenue Commissioners, as proposed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications last week, would further reduce transactions in the Post Offices which are struggling to stay open with falling revenues. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) said Government last month announced a €30m investment in the Post Office Network, including sanctioning additional services – and the Committee’s proposal flies contrary to this. IPU Executive member and Cork spokesperson Paddy O’Shea said: “Customers should […]


Postmasters welcome Government investment in Post Office Network

21 November, 2017: IPU calls for speedy implementation of Post Office Network plan, including roll out of additional government services Postmasters today welcomed the announcement of a €30m government investment plan in the Post Office Network, which will help to keep Post Offices open and bring additional government services to communities. The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) said the announcement made by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Denis Naughten was positive for communities – and called for implementation to begin immediately. The announcement follows more than two years of negotiations which have involved two Reports from Bobby Kerr, intensive talks between Postmasters and An Post and ongoing engagement […]


Postmasters’ reject Post Office proposal as their Contracts are threatened by An Post 

1 October, 2017: Postmasters call on Minister to invest in Post Office Network Postmasters have today voted to reject an An Post proposal on the future of Post Offices – after their Contracts have been threatened by the Company. At a special National Meeting in Athlone today, members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten to support an investment programme in the Network which financially recognises the social value of Post Offices. IPU General Secretary, Ned O’Hara, said An Post had contacted all Postmasters over the past two weeks threatening their Contracts over Members’ non co-operation with training on […]


Postmasters withdraw from talks with An Post

19 July 2017:  Postmasters Protest against Government inaction on Post Offices Postmasters protested today against Government inaction to secure the future of the Post Office Network – and announced that they are withdrawing from current talks with An Post. Members of the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) National Executive gathered at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment today – accusing the Government of overseeing the demise of the Network by doing nothing to support it. IPU General Secretary Ned O’Hara said the protest was as a result of “Government inaction and its continued refusal to invest in its own Network.” The National Executive of the Union has decided to withdraw from […]


Postmasters and An Post to begin month long talks on future of Post Office Network

4 May 2017: Postmasters have agreed to sit down with An Post to enter a month-long process of talks and negotiation to plan the future of the Post Office Network, as Postmasters’ Annual Conference takes place in Westport this weekend. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) called for An Post to take a dynamic approach to these talks and support new and innovative services at Post Offices, which increase their offering to communities and keep as many Offices as possible open. Speaking in advance of the conference, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday, General Secretary Ned O’Hara said the future of Ireland’s Post Office Network had reached a critical point […]


Postmasters Protest at Taoiseach’s Office calling for action to save hundreds of Post Offices

11 April 2017: Postmasters and the communities they serve protested outside An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s constituency office in Castlebar today (Tuesday, April 11), demanding urgent action to save hundreds of Post Offices. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) said that the Taoiseach, as leader of government, must take responsibility for the political limbo regarding the Post Office Network – and will be calling for his resignation if he does not act swiftly. Postmasters are seeking a sustainable future for a maximum number of Post Offices, with delivery of all appropriate Government services through the Network. The protest comes after responsibility for the Network has reverted from Minister of State Michael Ring to Minister for Communications, […]


Taoiseach must resign if action not taken on Post Office Network

6 April 2017: Postmasters and the communities they serve are to protest outside An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s constituency office next Tuesday demanding clarity on what action Government will take to save 600 Post Offices. The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) said that the Taoiseach, as leader of the government, must take responsibility for the current political fiasco regarding the Post Office Network and Postmasters will be calling for his resignation if he does not act swiftly to clarify the situation. The protest comes as responsibility for the Post Office Network has fallen into a political limbo, after Minister of State Michael Ring handed back responsibility for the Network to Minister Naughten, following a reported heated […]