Offaly's post offices under threat

What’s going to happen to Offaly’s network of post offices in the future?

That’s what Offaly Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen is asking today, after raising alarm about the threat to the future of more than 550 post offices around the country.

Deputy Cowen said more than half of the country’s post office network could face closure over the next three years if the Department of Social Protection moves to issue social welfare payments electronically.

“We are talking about the threat to the very existence of our post office network,” he said today.

“This is extremely serious. The local post office is a focal point for many Offaly communities and its loss would have an enormous impact on community life.”

Do local post offices play a central part in your life? Is retaining every post office in Offaly important in your opinion? Let us know your thoughts with a comment.