An Post has denied claims by the Irish Postmasters' Union that it is planning to shut hundreds of rural post offices starting early next year.
The union said 1,500 rural post offices could close in the next decade unless Government and EU policy concerning the tendering out of business to private operators was changed. Under EU regulations, the Government is obliged to put out to tender business contracts for over £90,000. The union says this would include social welfare payments.
An Post said: "We have a universal service obligation, which includes the collecting, sorting and delivering of post at the same cost everywhere. That is our business."
