An Post relocations will have 'little impact' on customer parcel collection
An Post say the relocation of delivery offices across Dublin city “will have little impact on local customers”.
As part of a citywide plan, An Post are relocating several of their delivery offices to new delivery hubs. This has sparked major concern among affected communities in places like Harmonstown and Griffith Avenue, who fear they will have to travel long distances to pick up missed parcels at depots without sufficient public transport links.
But correspondence received by Green Party Councillor Donna Cooney from An Post states they will "facilitate the collection of missed mail locally”. Public Affairs Manager with An Post Angus Laverty explained customers will be able to continue picking up packages at local post offices and other outlets. “The move will have little impact on local customers as the same postal workers will be delivering to the same local routes as before,” he said.
Mr Laverty said An Post is in consultation with staff and unions on the details of each moving premises, and that they require larger premises and repurposed facilities to “manage increased parcel volumes and to meet the future needs of the city”. This information comes following a motion tabled by Cllr Cooney at the North Central Area committee meeting yesterday, where she stressed the need for clarity on the proposed sale of the Harmonstown and Griffith Avenue sorting offices.
Fine Gael Cllr Clodagh Ní Mhuirí tabled a similar motion on behalf of residents who are concerned about delivery service units being moved up to 15 kilometres away. She said this is a decision that “would remove a valuable local service and force residents in the North Central Area to travel a much longer distance along the M50 to collect undelivered parcels or important registered letters”.
Cllr Ní Mhuirí said that all representatives in the area have been contacted by concerned locals and requested a meeting with An Post to “go through the issues”. “I think it would be very helpful for us to be able to represent the concerns of residents,” she said.
Fine Gael Councillors Gayle Ralph and Declan Flanagan previously called on An Post to halt their planned sale of Griffith Avenue Sorting Office , which is located between Glasnevin and Drumcondra, and instead work with Dublin City Council and the Office of Public Works to investigate alternative uses.
The councillors have written to An Post CEO David McRedmond, DCC, and the Minister for Office of Public Works following reports that the Griffith Avenue and Harmonstown delivery service offices are to be sold as part of plans to centralise services at a new hub in Finglas.
“We have been contacted by a significant number of local residents who are concerned about the future of the Griffith Avenue Sorting Office and the impact that centralising services will have on locals, particularly for older people, those with mobility challenges, and those who rely on local collection services,” Cllr Ralph said.
“This issue was also raised by residents attending our Saturday clinic in the Skylon Hotel. While we understand the need for An Post to modernise its operations, we do not believe valuable public assets should simply be sold off without exploring how they can benefit the local community.”
Cllr Flanagan added that “once these sites are sold, they are lost to public ownership forever ”. With communities across Drumcondra, Whitehall, Harmonstown and the surrounding areas “crying out” for community facilities, childcare provision, healthcare services and other essential infrastructure, he said “it would be a missed opportunity if these strategically located sites were sold to private interests without first assessing their potential community value”.
Residents have raised their own concerns about the sale of the sorting office, and state its closure conflicts with Dublin City Council ’s “15-minute city” commitments under the Development Plan 2022–2028. A letter outlining these concerns has been sent to local TDs and councillors calling on them to urgently raise the matter with An Post and the Minister for Communications.
“This decision would have a major negative impact on our community, which has one of the oldest demographics in Dublin. Many older residents rely heavily on local postal services and simply will not be able to travel to Finglas to collect parcels, registered post, or important documents,” the letter stated.
“During the lockdowns, our local postal workers became an essential support for many vulnerable and elderly residents. The relationships and local knowledge built up over many years are invaluable to the community. We are also hearing concerns from postal workers themselves, who are now expected to cover larger areas under increasing pressure.
“Residents on Griffith Avenue have already lost important local public transport connections, making access to services even more difficult. Removing another local service directly contradicts the principles of the “15-minute city” that Dublin City Council has committed to supporting in its Development Plan 2022–2028.
“The Development Plan specifically supports sustainable, age-friendly communities where residents can access essential day-to-day services within their local area without needing to travel long distances. It also highlights the importance of supporting older people to age independently within their communities and maintaining accessible local services that promote inclusion and quality of life.
“The proposed closure of the Griffith Avenue Sorting Office appears entirely at odds with these objectives.” They stated that the plan risks “isolating older residents” and “undermining the sustainability and liveability of our community”. It was agreed at the North Central Area meeting that Dublin City Council will request a meeting with An Post to seek clarity and discuss potentially retaining current delivery service units.
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