In an announcement made today, Eamon Ryan, minister for the environment, climate and communications, and the minister of state with responsibility for postal matters, Hildegarde Naughton, said the money will be used to support the renewal and development of the Post Office network.

The Fed’s Irish president Martin Mulligan, who is also a postmaster based in Athlone, said: This is fantastic news. I thank the executive for the effort they have put into getting the government to provide this much needed support. They have worked so hard over the last few years and it has been a hard battle.”

The state postal service owns the country’s 45 largest post offices but the vast majority are run by small business owners like Mr Mulligan.

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With many post offices located in convenience stores and local commmunities across Ireland this presents cause for concern.rish Postmasters’ Union general secretary Ned O’Hara said a government financial intervention must be in place by June to keep post offices open and to retain local banking in communities.

A Grant Thornton report published last year, warned that ‘unrestrained post office closures’ could occur after June 2021. Grant Thorton’s analysis recommended an annual public service obligation of €17m, which it described as ‘value for money’ for the State.

Minister Ryan said it is  “longstanding government policy” that postal services are not directly subsidised by government,  despite its commitment for a sustainable post office network as ‘a key component of the economic and social infrastructure in both rural and urban areas.’

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