POLITICS: TD Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher having held discussions with An Post concerning the imminent vacancy due to retirement at the Dunlewey Post Office, has publically called on An Post to proceed immediately to seek public expressions of interest for operating the new Post Office at Dunlewey.
He paid tribute to the retiring Post Mistress Margaret Gallagher who provided an excellent service at the Dunlewey Post Office since her appointment and wished her well.
Deputy Gallagher told Donegal Daily, “An Post’s intension to enter into a round of public consultation regarding the need or necessity for a Post Office in the Dunlewey area, rather than to directly appoint a new Post Office operator – defies complete logic, demonstrates an extremely poor understanding of the Dunlewey area by An Post and simply is a time wasting exercise on their part.
“The distances which Dunlewey Post Office is from the next nearest Post Office ranging from 11Km to 14 Km on average, the population of the area and the distinct geographical area with its own unique community in Dunlewey is evidence enough that a Post Office is needed and required in Dunlewey.
“Therefore any delay or interruption to services is unwarranted and must be avoided, and I am calling on An Post to guarantee that there will be no temporary removal or suspension of any An Post services for the people or community of Dunlewey.
“We cannot allow a situation to develop in Dunlewey similar to what occurred elsewhere in Donegal whereby, there were three months of delay in transferring the Post Office from one operator to another.
“I am to discuss this matter again with An Post officials in an attempt to get them to streamline the hand over process in Dunlewey and to get common-sense to prevail.
“Post Offices are a central part of rural life and rural communities, in the case of Dunlewey Post Office its future must be safe guarded – the service must continue and An Post must play their part in ensuring a smooth and seamless transition concluded Pat the Cope.