POST OFFICES
MUST STAY OPEN
POST OFFICES
MUST STAY OPEN"The government can't mess around with the few social services the people have", warned Labour local election candidate Pádraig de Burca today. He was commenting on Fianna Fáil and PD plans that may force many local post offices to close as social welfare payments are privatised.
"The post office is a focal point within the community, it provides a service to the local public, especially those who are ignored by the banks and building societies", de Burca stated.
Mr de Burca, standing in the Clontarf ward with running mate Derek Mc Dowell, believes that the Government must classify social welfare payments as a "social service" and allow local post offices to continue to provide the services that the local community needs. "Not to do so would be an act of gross stupidity", he added.
Mr de Burca also came out strongly against proposals by a large retail chain to provide the social welfare payments service to the public. "Social welfare payments are the mainstay of many people. They should be paid out in proper places, not at shop counters where people will feel obliged to make purchases. The current system where there is a distinct difference between a
post office and a shop must be maintained", de Burca added. "It is clear that any retailers motivation to provide this servicewould simply be as a loss leader - they are hoping people will receive their payments and then purchase cigarettes and the like."
"The closure of the Post Office in Fairview will simply be the first
in a series if this move is sanctioned - we will soon lose the Post Offices
in Marino, Clontarf, Donnycarney and so on" concluded Mr. de Burca.
"This must not happen."
. . 