There could be bad news ahead for many rural communities as the Minister for Rural Affairs Michael Ring has said that a number of post offices will have to close in the near future.
In what has been a turbulent year for An Post Mr Ring agreed with the vast consensus that many rural communities will be left without a post office due to the decline in numbers availing of their services.
Speaking before the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Ring admitted that some post offices “have a very bright future and some of them have very serious difficulties”.
Mr Ring added: “I saw some of the transactions that were taking place in some of these post offices. I will be honest. Some of these post offices are not going to survive.”
Although Mr Ring agreed with the general consensus regarding the future of rural post offices he did admit that he wouldn’t get involved with the debate given that An Post is only partially ran by the state.
The latest revelations will come as blow to many living in rural communities as An Post revealed earlier this year that nearly 200 post offices could be closed nationwide due to extenuating loses at the company.