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THE IRISH POSTMASTERS’ Union has said it will work with the government to explore opportunities for expansion.
During a Prime Time debate this week, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte cited a number of avenues that might bring new business to post offices and help secure their future.
He described the IPU’s proposal to develop a post office-based banking service in conjunction with credit unions as an idea that could be developed.
Rabbitte also said that providing additional services at post offices such as driving licence and motor tax renewal and payment of property tax could also be looked into.
IPU General Secretary Brian McGann said postmasters were encouraged by the minister’s comments and looked forward to working with him to deliver outcomes.
Postmasters will work constructively with the Minister, and all other Departments, to find solutions and to further enhance the role of Post Offices as the face of Government in the community, and to fully explore the potential to provide an additional banking force.
He added: “The Prime Time programme showed the genuine concern that communities have about Post Office closures, and desire that communities have to keep them open, as one of the last services remaining in many villages and towns.”
Rabbitte confirmed he has written to fellow ministers requesting them to set out what their departments can bring in terms of developing the role of post offices.
He also provided assurance that people would continue to be entitled to receive their benefits in person at post offices if they choose to do so, in spite of the ongoing move towards direct debit payment of benefits into bank accounts.
Representatives from the IPU are due to meet with Rabbitte next month.
Concern about the future of the post office network follows a recent report by Grant Thornton that concluded significant numbers of post offices nationwide would close by 2017.
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Generic zombie apocalypse comment
They’re probably telling porkies.
P.S. No one knows what consciousness is… Is this not cruel?
So David Camerons pigs head probably knew what was going on?
@Ananya Sharma: someone had to ..
The Oinking Dead!!!
@Alan Duffy: Don,t tell Francy Brady
Did they do this because they watched Flatliners as kids?!
I always wonder does SciFi inspire inventions….
Pet Sematary
@Xanadu Marmalade: Sometimes dead is better
Cruelty. Pure and simple.
What a disgusting study. What have humans become in their search for immortality. Yuck.
@Dermot Foley: ah, curious?!
Wow , it’s going to be messy BBQ’s in years to come … ….
So there’s hope for politicians!!!!
Under current legislation it’s ok to stick your head up your arse while people are homeless…while we give cash to the f.a.i.
Frankenstein reincarnate
Wow , it’s going to be messy BBQ’s in years to come … …. in my day pigs were killed and they stay killed
Hope for trump
I read an article before where it was predicted in the future , scientists will be able to translate and display what animals think , feel and comprehend.
That future generations will look back at the savagery of our intensive factory farming techniques in horror.
Not to mention the environmental hazards it causes
It’s aliveeeee It’s aliveeee
fools i told you I’m not maaaad
soon ill kill you all hahahahaha
Interesting info. Now O need to find a source in actual English. #gobacktoschool
@Ian Phillip Creaner: Maybe take your own advice?
@Diarmuid Hunt: Unkike you, I use a phone, not a computer. Also unlike you, I have spell check switched off. It cannot deal with the 7 languages I generally communicate in. This game is fun, but unlike you, I have a life to get back to. Oh one last fun one. Unlike you, I have man hands.
@Ian Phillip Creaner: You made some great assumptions there with no information so well done you. I’m using a phone, I’m a man using my hands, I don’t jump on other people’s mistakes unless they make it while trying to point out others’ mistakes. You can’t have much of a life considering all the things you found ‘fun’ in your last comment. Anyway have a good one.
@Ian Phillip Creaner: “the 7 languages I generally communicate in”. Nice humble brag mate.
That’s sick
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