Over the last ten years, 257 post offices have closed across the country, according to data provided to Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane via parliamentary question.
Cork had the largest number of closures, with 22 shutting their doors in rural areas and 12 in urban centres.
Dublin saw 21 post offices close over the decade, while 21 rural post offices closed in Galway.
Other closures included Donegal (19); Mayo (18); Kerry (15); Wexford (15); Limerick (12) and Tipperary (11).
“It is shocking that 257 post offices closed in the last ten years,” Mr Cullinane said.
“The local post office plays a vital role in Irish life, providing financial services, access to the social welfare system, communications infrastructure and community supports.
“In many areas, they are the only visible expression of the State.”
The Waterford TD said there was widespread concern that the current contract terms were “simply not fit for purpose”. He said that as a result, new entrants are not attracted to take over post office services after long-serving postmasters retire.
“Without a new approach as advocated by the IPU, the network will shrink – and more communities will lose their post office,” he said.
“That would be a huge blow to social cohesion and rural life.”
Mr Cullinane called for action, saying that the Government “cannot continue to ignore the crisis in our post office network”.
“What’s needed now is targeted, strategic investment, and a new vision that puts public service and community needs first.”
Last month, postmasters warned that 40% of post offices could close unless Government funding for the network is increased.
The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) is calling for a 50% increase in State funding to €15 million per year over five years to secure the network.
Currently, the network receives €10m annually, but the IPU said that this is not adequate.
General Secretary Sandra Tormey told the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications that 108 postmasters are earning less than the minimum wage when costs are taken out.
She said a poll of members revealed the scale of the problem.
“If the Government funding stays the same at €10 million, 40% will have to close. We’ve had to absorb 30% minimum wage increases and 15% inflation,” she said.
“We cannot increase our prices to make our businesses viable. We cannot avail of any supports that Government gives because we are deemed services and not retailers.”
She said that if funding was increased to €15 million, 70% of members could envisage a viable future.
The union says that this funding would help expand access to in-person public services and support identity verification and fraud prevention for departments and agencies.
Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy said that his family post office in Ballinalee in Co Longford would close if funding was not increased.
“It would be one of the 40% who would go if funding wasn’t in place, the ten million has worked,” he said.
“As a postmaster, we need that €15 million, not just me, but hundreds of other offices and communities across the country.”
An Post Chief Executive David McRedmond said the semi-State was the conduit between the IPU and the Government, but he added that it supported the union in getting an increase in funding.
He pointed to a 32% decline in transactions since 2019.
Govt commitment to sustainable network
The Government said it is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland.
Government agreed to provide €10m a year over a three-year fixed term from 2023 to 2025 to support the network with €25 million provided so far.
It is the Media Department’s understanding that most of the Post Office closures referred to took place prior to this funding being put in place in 2023.
The current Programme for Government commits to renewed funding for the post office network, and the Department is engaging with stakeholders and Government colleagues to secure further funding.
An Post has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, are operational matters for the board and management of the company and not one in which the Government has any function.
