Postmasters to run in general election

The Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) is to run candidates in up to 10 constituencies in the general election to highlight what it described as a crisis facing the post office network.

It is also to hold a national demonstration in Dublin this month.

The IPU said over 300 postmasters nationwide have left the business over the last two years. It warned that, in the absence of intervention by the Government and An Post, a similar number of offices would shut over the next two or three years.

IPO general secretary John Kane said: "The network has been seriously threatened - it has gone down from 1,750 post offices in 2001 to fewer than 1,300 today, and the number is still falling."

He said the reduction in the number of offices was due to the low level of income paid to postmasters and postmistresses and general uncertainty about the future.

Mr Kane said the Government was not doing enough to ensure that services such as social welfare payments, TV licences and post office savings were retained. "That's our biggest line of business and without that our post office network would collapse completely."

He said about 35 postmasters and postmistresses received just €8,200 per year. Another 400 received less than €17,500.

Mr Kane said that postmasters and postmistresses were at the end of their tether in terms of their frustration with An Post and the Government.

"Here we have probably one of the hardest working groups in the country - men and women who ran the post office network since the foundation of the State and they have never been paid properly for the responsibility, risks or commitment that they show," he said.

The IPU said that one postmaster, Tom Martin, would be running in the Waterford constituency.

Mr Kane said that in total nine or 10 postmasters or postmistresses could stand in the election.

"Local communities have indicated that they are anxious to support the retention of their local post office.

The IPU demonstration, to be held in Dublin on Tuesday, February 20th, will involve a march from Parnell Square to the Dáil, via the GPO on O'Connell Street.

The Labour Party spokesman on communications, Tommy Broughan, yesterday called on Minister Noel Dempsey to intervene and address what he said was a looming postal crisis.