The decision by An Post to withdraw the sale of Prize Bonds from small post offices has been condemned by the Fine Gael spokesman on public enterprise, Mr Jim Higgins.
The Mayo TD said: "Small post offices throughout the country are being badly hit by the decision." The withdrawal of the service was undermining their commercial viability.
"Apart from the reduction of business at the smaller offices it also means that the sub-post master/mistress is losing the unit fee which he or she could have received for the transaction." He said that while the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, would argue it was not Government policy to close subpost offices, "that effectively is what is happening".