An average of 15 communities in every county will lose their Post Office from the coming Tuesday, July 31st and local communities in Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel and Scartaglin are among those in the firing line.
The country is facing the closure of 390 Post Offices from next week as the post masters have not been offered new contracts. They have the option to remain on their existing contract with declining income or take an exit package, according to a statement from the Public Banking Forum of Ireland (PBFI).
The long-term future of the remaining 690 Post Offices is not secure.
Contracts Expire in 2019
The government contract with the remaining Post Offices expires the end of 2019 and the contract then goes to tender and there is no guarantee An Post will win it.
The following is a sample of the Post Office closure list for Kerry compiled by the forum:
Abbeydorney, Asdee, Ballinskelligs, Ballylongford, Ballymacelligott, Banemore Cross, Beaufort, Blackwater Bridge, Castlemaine, Causeway, Cordal, Currow, Duagh, Farranfore, Glenflesk, Gneeveguilla, Headford, Killarney, Kilcummin, Kilflynn, Kilmoyley, Knocknagoshel, Lisselton, Lyreacrompane, Mastergeehy, Moyvane and Scartaglin.
New Zealand Model
The PBFI is putting a New Zealand model forward as a solution to this latest crisis to hit rural Ireland.
The Kiwi Post Bank was established in 2002 in New Zealand and it now has 20% of the banking market and 25% of all banking customers.
It has been described as a phenomenal success and this has been highlighted in a letter to Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, T.D. Chair of Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the committee responsible for the Post Office network.
The letter outlines the option of the KiwiBank model for Ireland and as a solution to the Post Office closure issue.
Profitable Network Possible
Kiwi Post Bank made over $7m profit in its third year of operation and continually makes over $100m profit annually in recent years.
A thriving profitable Post Office network is possible – The obvious solution to the Post Office closures issue and securing their long-term future is being ignored.
See the submission put forward by the Public Banking Forum of Ireland with a click on the link here: http://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/04/submission-by-pbfi.pdf
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Thank you for taking the time……..John Reidy. Email: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com / Tel: 087 23 59 467.
