Kerry councillors call for €15m annual investment in postal services

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

Kerry councillors have called on the government to commit to an annual investment of €15m in national post office services.

Councillor Angie Baily highlighted the importance of the post offices in the lives of elderly people in Kerry, providing in-person services and acting as social hubs.

Currently, the post office receives €10m in annual funding from the government, but the Irish Postmasters Union says this is not enough.

They called on the government in May to commit to providing €15m a year in support, citing inflation and wage increases as reasons, amongst others.

During a meeting on Monday, Cllr Baily emphasised the importance of post offices for Kerry’s elderly population.

“They are a huge part of our community. We want to ensure their sustainability and to protect the vital role that they provide,” she said.

“We need to make sure we are safeguarding the independence and wellbeing of our elderly people who are the most vulnerable in our communities and most likely to use the services provided by post offices.

“To see these post offices close means that we’re taking away from the independence of older people who depend on them.”

Cllr Baily touched on the difficulties elderly people faced during Covid-19, many being isolated and having little face-to-face interaction.

She said post offices provide a place for older people to interface with the community and have crucial social interactions.

When the post office closed in Ballymacelligott in 2018, a shop was opened up in the local Halfway Bar to fil the vacuum. Cllr Baily cites this a great example of the need for local services in rural areas.

Many of the elderly people will visit the shop and stay for a while to socialise.

“It’s a daily interaction with community. Some of them, the gentlemen might play a game of cards, sometimes a cup of tea or a drink, and they’ll be gone again home for dinner,” she said.

“The post office is a great spot that just provides that connectivity and if someone doesn’t show up, that registers. It has that element of collective care,” she added.

The Irish Post Office network processes approximately 84 million transactions a year, amounting to a total value of €14bn, including €7bn in welfare payments.

Approximately 540 post offices operate nationwide in areas without banks within a 5km radius.

In some communities post offices are the only providers of face-to-face essential government services, providing a more convenient option for those that struggle with digital platforms.