Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has written to acting Tánaiste Joan Burton demanding that the Department of Social Protection reverse its decision asking customers to change their payment method from local post offices cash payments to banking institutions through electronic fund transfer.
Deputy Gallagher said this was a retrograde step for local community post offices, and would further undermine the long term viability of Post offices right through out rural Ireland.
Deputy Gallagher was told by acting Tánaiste Burton that she would “look into the matter and investigate the department’s policy on payment methods to its customers”.
In addition Deputy Gallagher T.D. stated “that in the context that the Government are the 100% owners of the post Office network, a taskforce must be established by the Department of Communication with cross Departmental support tasked with the responsibility to better utilise the Post Office network for providing services, advocacy and supports”.
No other state owned network has such a broad based and accessible number of outlets throughout the country” stated Pat the Cope and by better utilising the Post Office network you are effectively bringing services and supports closer to the people.
Deputy Gallagher added that for too long the true value of the Post Office network has not be realised
“Now is an opportunity in consultation with the service providers, the departments of Government and the citizens of the state to provide greater availability of the services of State”.
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