Rural Kerry is under attack from the Government, according to Killarney area, Fianna Fail candidate Niall Kelleher, who has raised concerns about what he has described as ongoing attacks on rural Ireland and rural Kerry.
His comments come on the back of alarming reports about the future of rural Post Offices. Mr. Kelleher has stated that Post Offices throughout rural Kerry could face closure if the proposals from the Government go ahead.
“It is alarming that Minister Pat Rabbitte continues with his plans to move towards electronic payments and the use of bank accounts.”
“I am shocked and concerned with what the Government is proposing with regard to Post Offices. If the Government succeed with its proposals, we could see almost every post office across Ireland lose up to a third of its income.
This will be as a direct result of the removal of social welfare payments, leaving many of these businesses unsustainable. We need to be vigilant about what is happening, as An Post appear to be trying to partner with the global supermarket chain Tesco, to provide the new post and pay partnership,” said Mr. Kelleher.
“All of us know that for many people, the weekly visit to the local Post Office may be the only social outing for them in the week. I will continue to fight for the preservation of as many services as is possible for rural parts of Kerry. We need to unite to oppose any draconian steps that further hurt rural Ireland.”
“This latest development has followed the Governments closure of rural Garda Stations in Kerry and has the potential be a further slap in the face to hard pressed families in Kerry. The only thing that adds up from all of this is that rural Kerry is under sustained attack from this Government,” Mr. Kelleher concluded.
