Fine Gael closing down Rural Ireland??

hurler32 · 12-03-2017 9:32am #1

Apparently Bobby Kerrs an post report seeks 80 post office closures, Fine Gael reckon this isnt enough and wants to close 200 post offices instead practically all in rural ireland.
Fine Gael closed most rural garda stations which has led to a certain Irish ethnic group been more or less told to do as you please??....how can anyone in Rural Ireland vote Fine Gael at this stage?? unless your a top public servant or a very very large dairy farmer??

Allinall · 12-03-2017 9:53am

hurler32 wrote: »

Apparently Bobby Kerrs an post report seeks 80 post office closures, Fine Gael reckon this isnt enough and wants to close 200 post offices instead practically all in rural ireland.
Fine Gael closed most rural garda stations which has led to a certain Irish ethnic group been more or less told to do as you please??....how can anyone in Rural Ireland vote Fine Gael at this stage?? unless your a top public servant or a very very large dairy farmer??

A lot of mis-thruths in your post.

There are roughly 1,100 post offices in Ireland ,
https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/majority-of-post-offices-are-loss-making-says-an-post-1.3002996%3Fmode%3Damp

With 180 in Dublin

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/at+your+local+Post+Office.htm

Up to 200 doesn't nearly represent "practically all in rural Ireland ".

Have you anything to back up your claim that FG closed most of the rural Garda stations?

Regarding the post offices, how much extra tax per week are you prepared to pay to support Loss making ones?

blanch152 · 12-03-2017 9:58am

hurler32 wrote: »

Apparently Bobby Kerrs an post report seeks 80 post office closures, Fine Gael reckon this isnt enough and wants to close 200 post offices instead practically all in rural ireland.
Fine Gael closed most rural garda stations which has led to a certain Irish ethnic group been more or less told to do as you please??....how can anyone in Rural Ireland vote Fine Gael at this stage?? unless your a top public servant or a very very large dairy farmer??

I notice you don't have any links in your op to back up your claims. Here is something you might read - the Government's actual plan for rural development:

http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/01/162404-rural-ireland-action-plan-web-2-1.pdf

wherearewe45 · 12-03-2017 10:10am

blanch152 wrote:

I notice you don't have any links in your op to back up your claims. Here is something you might read - the Government's actual plan for rural development:

This all seems great but what are the chances of a lot of it been realised. I hope all these proposals are implemented but I don't see it

hurler32 · 12-03-2017 11:43am

Up to 200 doesn't nearly represent "practically all in rural Ireland ".

Have you anything to back up your claim that FG closed most of the rural Garda stations?

Regarding the post offices, how much extra tax per week are you prepared to pay to support Loss making ones?[/QUOTE]

!90 of the 200 are in Rural Ireland, for those of us living in Rural Ireland it seems Fine Gael is only too delighted to finish off many towns and villages.

In county Limerick where 80,000 reside Fine Gael closed 19 Garda stations in the last 6 years. There are 2 proper Garda stations remaining NCW & Bruff , both cover huge geographical areas with 1 or 2 cars...there are a number of very active Irish Burglary gangs residing in County Limerick so people are left by Fine Gael like lambs to the slaughter...doesnt matter if its your home heating oil, farmers gates, childrens bikes, pet dogs, cash, jewellery...they rob it all knowing theres no chance of been caught.

ancapailldorcha · 12-03-2017 12:43pm

Hurler32, I'm going to leave this thread open. However, I am going to ask that you tone down the ranting tone present in your posts and that you read the charter before posting again.

Thanks.

Jawgap · 15-03-2017 10:39am

hurler32 wrote: »

Up to 200 doesn't nearly represent "practically all in rural Ireland ".

Have you anything to back up your claim that FG closed most of the rural Garda stations?

Regarding the post offices, how much extra tax per week are you prepared to pay to support Loss making ones?

!90 of the 200 are in Rural Ireland, for those of us living in Rural Ireland it seems Fine Gael is only too delighted to finish off many towns and villages.

In county Limerick where 80,000 reside Fine Gael closed 19 Garda stations in the last 6 years. There are 2 proper Garda stations remaining NCW & Bruff , both cover huge geographical areas with 1 or 2 cars...there are a number of very active Irish Burglary gangs residing in County Limerick so people are left by Fine Gael like lambs to the slaughter...doesnt matter if its your home heating oil, farmers gates, childrens bikes, pet dogs, cash, jewellery...they rob it all knowing theres no chance of been caught.

It's nothing to do with FG, FF, or any political party it's to do with life, progress etc.

People in rural Ireland like their one-off houses on their own plots - fair enough and good luck to them, but then people shouldn't be surprised when that type of dispersed development impacts the viability of villages and other settlements - you need clusters to make services like post offices, shops, public transport and even broadband viable

Policing has changed - you don't need a Guard and a station in every village. Better comms, more widespread availability of motorised transport etc mean Guards don't need as many fixed physical locations as they did in previous years. And stuff like you mention in your post gets stolen in urban areas, perhaps even in greater quantities, and it never gets recovered either, so clear up rates for petty theft are not solely a rural issue.

Similarly with post offices - people just don't post stuff any more. An Post could do more to market the service but they don't but I don't see that as a reason for us to subsidise services that are being used as a surrogate for social support.

I don't see the decline in the number of rural pubs as necessarily a bad thing - if we're drinking less, that's a positive.

Personally, if it was me and I had a say I'd prefer that instead of re-opening Garda stations they spent the money on proper high powered four-wheel drive Garda vehicles - not just the cheapest ones they tendered for.......I'd also prefer if the HSE was gotten rid of and the number of sites we provided healthcare from was curtailed with the savings ploughed into a world class air ambulance service, and patient transport service.

murphaph · 15-03-2017 12:50pm

Ireland's largest city has shocking infrastructure when compared to cities of similar size in neighbouring countries (Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Amsterdam, Munich, Lisbon, Oslo etc. etc. etc.). So who is getting the short end of the stick in Ireland exactly?!

Getting tired of the rural whinge to be honest. Living in one off housing decimates towns and villages far more than any post office closing down. If you don't want your rural villages wiped out then live in them, not 2 miles outside them.

Idbatterim · 15-03-2017 1:05pm

Agreed. The actual attack is on the fortune Dublin generated and promptly shipped out to "rural Ireland". your local planners, can be blamed for much of it. Ribbon development and dispersed settlements. Instead of living in the actual town or village!

flutered · 15-03-2017 1:17pm

Allinall wrote: »

A lot of mis-thruths in your post.

There are roughly 1,100 post offices in Ireland ,
https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/majority-of-post-offices-are-loss-making-says-an-post-1.3002996%3Fmode%3Damp

With 180 in Dublin

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/at+your+local+Post+Office.htm

Up to 200 doesn't nearly represent "practically all in rural Ireland ".

Have you anything to back up your claim that FG closed most of the rural Garda stations?

Regarding the post offices, how much extra tax per week are you prepared to pay to support Loss making ones?

how many have gone already

flutered · 15-03-2017 1:26pm

would not an post try some housekeeping of a different kind, like becoming a 21st century buisness, why i am assking is, on feb 27th i sent a smaall package to dublin via regestered post, an post claimed that they tried to deliever it on the thursday, there was no one in so they left a note, the recipent claims that the house was occupied all day and no note was left, another attempt was made to deliever it on the monday again failure, the package was then sent to the undelieveried depot in roscommon, it arrived there on march 8th, it is sstill there, i rang the post office it was sent from today, to be told that it would be in roscommon for a while as a lot of letters and packages end up there, they have lost a regular customer, from now on its only by curiour

Sam Russell · 15-03-2017 2:53pm

Why did An Post get rid of PostBank?

It was an innovative service that would have threatened the regular banks but they just closed it down after just opening it and spending a huge amount setting it up.

Balf · 16-03-2017 4:32pm

flutered wrote: »

they have lost a regular customer, from now on its only by curiour

Which, in fairness, sort of demonstrates that there's nothing unique about the services An Post provide. I'm sure that these closures have virtually no impact on rural life.

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why did An Post get rid of PostBank?

I think their explanation is credible

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/News+and+Information/Response+to+Postbank+statement.htm

the fact that Postbank continues to be loss-making with no prospect of breaking even

flutered · 16-03-2017 5:33pm

Balf wrote: »

Which, in fairness, sort of demonstrates that there's nothing unique about the services An Post provide. I'm sure that these closures have virtually no impact on rural life.I think their explanation is credible

unique in the services an post provide, the package is still in roscommon, this is a bank holliday weekend, will it arrrive monday that is doubtfull, that is some wait to have a package returned, what kind of system is there in roscommon to sort packages out, how many employed there, how many should be employed there

dudara · 16-03-2017 5:36pm

hurler32 wrote: »

Apparently Bobby Kerrs an post report seeks 80 post office closures, Fine Gael reckon this isnt enough and wants to close 200 post offices instead practically all in rural ireland.
Fine Gael closed most rural garda stations which has led to a certain Irish ethnic group been more or less told to do as you please??....how can anyone in Rural Ireland vote Fine Gael at this stage?? unless your a top public servant or a very very large dairy farmer??

I have one observation on this, it's the Government, not Fine Gael. I think any Government, regardless of the parties involved, would be faced with these dilemmas or challenges.

Sam Russell · 16-03-2017 5:45pm

Balf wrote: »

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why did An Post get rid of PostBank?

It was an innovative service that would have threatened the regular banks but they just closed it down after just opening it and spending a huge amount setting it up.

Which, in fairness, sort of demonstrates that there's nothing unique about the services An Post provide. I'm sure that these closures have virtually no impact on rural life.I think their explanation is credible

It was the shareholders of Postbank (that included BNP Parisbas) which closed it, due I think to problems with BNP Parisbas. The NTMA could have provided the necessary support for An Post to continue and develop the service.

It is a shame because it would have provided a perfect vehicle for rural banking, and for payment of Social Protection payments and collection of state receipts such as LPT.

murphaph · 17-03-2017 12:41pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

It is a shame because it would have provided a perfect vehicle for rural banking, and for payment of Social Protection payments and collection of state receipts such as LPT.

I agree that PostBank was a good idea but it would also have been on borrowed time from day one in fairness. Banking is moving online apace. It's probably the best candidate of all for having no bricks and mortar presence. I haven't been into a branch in many years personally and I have them all around me.

I'd say the government's push on rural broadband will have a far greater impact than keeping post offices on life support. The timing is a little unfortunate, but even with "slow" internet you can do online banking etc. without any problems.

Sam Russell · 17-03-2017 1:00pm

murphaph wrote: »

I agree that PostBank was a good idea but it would also have been on borrowed time from day one in fairness. Banking is moving online apace. It's probably the best candidate of all for having no bricks and mortar presence. I haven't been into a branch in many years personally and I have them all around me.

I'd say the government's push on rural broadband will have a far greater impact than keeping post offices on life support. The timing is a little unfortunate, but even with "slow" internet you can do online banking etc. without any problems.

You cannot get €50 notes online. You cannot lodge cash online. Not everyone is internet savvy, and not everyone trusts the internet, no matter its speed - just because something is possible does not mean it is preferable.

There was over €500 million on deposit with PostBank at the time it closed. Currently, if it existed and paid anything reasonable in interest, it could quadruple that deposit base, particularly if it was promoted.

How many mattresses would be emptied into PostBank in rural Ireland if it was considered safer than keeping the stash of cash hidden, yet easy to withdraw in times of need?

end of the road · 17-03-2017 3:35pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

Agreed. The actual attack is on the fortune Dublin generated and promptly shipped out to "rural Ireland". your local planners, can be blamed for much of it. Ribbon development and dispersed settlements. Instead of living in the actual town or village!

incorrect. there is no attack on anything in relation to dublin. being the economic centre of the country, it is our duty to insure that the whole country receives what it needs to operate.

Balf · 17-03-2017 4:08pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

How many mattresses would be emptied into PostBank in rural Ireland if it was considered safer than keeping the stash of cash hidden, yet easy to withdraw in times of need?

? But is there not still a post office deposit savings account, that would do exactly what you say?

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/Money+Matters/Savings+and+Investments/?gclid=CjwKEAjwkq7GBRDun9iu2JjyhmsSJADHCD_HTJb7IpMhNs58x5NrIadKvHrYzzkc-Nzk9D3fz4gDZBoCKRrw_wcB

They, the proof of the pudding is the eating. They tried a post bank initiative. It didn't work. Regulatory requirements on banks necessarily create a big overhead, so if they can't make it work in partnership with a bank they'd find it significantly harder without a banking partner.

Balf · 17-03-2017 4:10pm

end of the road wrote: »

it is our duty to insure that the whole country receives what it needs to operate.

Grand. The situation seems to be that the whole country will operate just fine with far fewer rural post offices.

Which saves the costs they incur for stuff we actually need.

Sam Russell · 17-03-2017 4:11pm

Balf wrote: »

They, the proof of the pudding is the eating. They tried a post bank initiative. It didn't work. Regulatory requirements on banks necessarily create a big overhead, so if they can't make it work in partnership with a bank they'd find it significantly harder without a banking partner.

The banking partner would be NTMA. The original banking partner ran into trouble over the banking crash.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 4:13pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why did An Post get rid of PostBank?

Internet. Honestly can't remember last time I was in a bank.

end of the road · 17-03-2017 4:14pm

Balf wrote: »

Grand. The situation seems to be that the whole country will operate just fine with far fewer rural post offices.

Which saves the costs they incur for stuff we actually need.

there is no evidence of that. just wishful thinking on your part. if post offices weren't needed they wouldn't exist. the money that would be supposibly saved from removing these vital services would not be spent on other needed things, but would go back into the general pot and be spent on things that actually aren't needed instead.

Balf · 17-03-2017 4:16pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

The banking partner would be NTMA. The original banking partner ran into trouble over the banking crash.

NTMA isn't a commecial bank. In any event, as I pointed out, NTMA already offer State backed savings products through the post office.

There just isn't the opportunity that you perceive.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 4:24pm

end of the road wrote: »

. if post offices weren't needed they wouldn't exist

There was a need for them. This need no longer exists.

Del2005 · 17-03-2017 4:37pm

end of the road wrote: »

there is no evidence of that. just wishful thinking on your part. if post offices weren't needed they wouldn't exist. the money that would be supposibly saved from removing these vital services would not be spent on other needed things, but would go back into the general pot and be spent on things that actually aren't needed instead.

Why is it a vital service if no one is currently using it?
If they were being used there wouldn't be a need to close them.

Sam Russell · 17-03-2017 4:49pm

Balf wrote: »

NTMA isn't a commecial bank. In any event, as I pointed out, NTMA already offer State backed savings products through the post office.

There just isn't the opportunity that you perceive.

Savings products do not make up a retail banking service. You cannot get your pension or children's allowance paid into a savings account so you can draw as you need.

Many of An Post services like Bill Pay and their currency products could be drawn together into a branded banking service.

end of the road · 17-03-2017 4:59pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

There was a need for them. This need no longer exists.

it obviously does or we wouldn't have post offices

Del2005 wrote: »

Why is it a vital service if no one is currently using it?
If they were being used there wouldn't be a need to close them.

there is no evidence no-one is currently using them. whether they are used or not wouldn't have any effect on whether a service goes should the service need to cut costs.

MeTheMan · 17-03-2017 5:01pm

They are trying there best alrite!! Both closest garda stations have been shut where I live. Closest one is about 40 min drive. Heard far to many stories of locals ringing garda's and being told there was no car available atm.

A lot of neighbours have got gun licences in the last few years because there is a sense you need to protect yourself. I myself got a good dog.

The comments of living in your local village are just ignorant. You clear know little about living in rural Ireland.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 5:08pm

MeTheMan wrote: »

. Heard far to many stories of locals ringing garda's and being told there was no car available atm.

Welcome to life in Dublin. People in Dublin have been hearing this since at least the 90's

MeTheMan · 17-03-2017 5:17pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Welcome to live in Dublin. People in Dublin have been hearing this since at least the 90's

Thanks for the invite but I think I'll be happier where I am.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 5:19pm

MeTheMan wrote: »

Thanks for the invite but I think I'll be happier where I am.

Then get use to using the Internet for banking and other such services

MeTheMan · 17-03-2017 5:27pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Then get use to using the Internet for banking and other such services

You arnt really adding much to this topic. ''If you don't like it move to Dublin. If you don't want to move to Dublin then shut up'' isn't starting much conversation on the topic.

I already use banking online. We don't live in the stone age. Pensions and social welfare are paid out in the post office. I'm sure most people would be happy to have this paid straight into their bank accounts. Especially those who might get work abroad.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 5:39pm

MeTheMan wrote: »

You arnt really adding much to this topic. ''If you don't like it move to Dublin. If you don't want to move to Dublin then shut up'' isn't starting much conversation on the topic.

I already use banking online. We don't live in the stone age. Pensions and social welfare are paid out in the post office. I'm sure most people would be happy to have this paid straight into their bank accounts. Especially those who might get work abroad.

I'm not saying if you don't like it move to Dublin. I'm saying the level of service you're giving out about now has been the standard level in Dublin for decades. (Note there was a typo in my original post)

murphaph · 17-03-2017 5:42pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

You cannot get €50 notes online. You cannot lodge cash online. Not everyone is internet savvy, and not everyone trusts the internet, no matter its speed - just because something is possible does not mean it is preferable.

There was over €500 million on deposit with PostBank at the time it closed. Currently, if it existed and paid anything reasonable in interest, it could quadruple that deposit base, particularly if it was promoted.

How many mattresses would be emptied into PostBank in rural Ireland if it was considered safer than keeping the stash of cash hidden, yet easy to withdraw in times of need?

Cash will be made extinct in time too. It may not suit everyone but the advantages likely outweigh the disadvantages. Printing, securing and transporting cash is a complete waste of resources as it all eventually ends up as bytes in a computer.

I know what you're saying and of course I cannot disagree that the status quo is so but let's be honest, cash is dying out and government much prefers a cashless society as tax evasion is made much harder.

My point is that the western world is going more and more cashless. Ireland as a Eurozone member will not escape the trend. Retail banking will be a thing of the past within my lifetime I reckon.

digzy · 17-03-2017 5:47pm

Honestly don't get the big deal with post offices. I don't live in a city But I'm never in the post office unless I've to mail a parcel that won't fit in a letter box...

plenty better ways to spend taxpayers money imho

murphaph · 17-03-2017 6:27pm

end of the road wrote: »

it obviously does or we wouldn't have post offices

there is no evidence no-one is currently using them. whether they are used or not wouldn't have any effect on whether a service goes should the service need to cut costs.

What?

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 7:33pm

murphaph wrote: »

What?

I think they are saying it doesn't matter that no one uses telegraphs anymore rural Ireland deserves that service

Victor · 17-03-2017 7:54pm

About 135 out of about 700 Garda stations closed. Several Dublin ones closed.

Norway and Scotland, each with a similar population to Ireland, each have about 10% of the number of police stations.

hurler32 wrote: »

In county Limerick where 80,000 reside

http://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/population/populationofeachprovincecountyandcity2011/

Limerick City 57,106
Limerick County 134,703

Fine Gael closed 19 Garda stations in the last 6 years.

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=10607

Shanagolden and Doon closed in March 2012.

The following were closed as of 31st January 2013.
* Galbally
* Kilfinane
* Castletown Conyers
* Kilmeedy
* Tournafolla

Mary Street in Limerick City closed in February / March 2013.

Total seven closed in the county and one in the city.

There are 2 proper Garda stations remaining NCW & Bruff ,

Limerick County
Abbeyfeale
Adare
Askeaton
Athea
Ballingarry
Ballylanders
Ballyneety
Bruff
Bruree
Caherconlish
Cappamore
Castleconnell
Croom
Dromcollogher
Foynes
Glin
Hospital
Kilmallock
Murroe
Newcastle West
Oola
Pallasgreen
Pallaskenry
Patrickswell
Rathkeale

Limerick City
Henry Street
Mayorstone
Roxboro Road

That's 25 in the county and 3 in the city.

Widdershins · 17-03-2017 8:03pm

I'm not sure where people think their meat and dairy comes from? There is a reason farmers on or near their farms.

An Post banking would have been great, but they do offer AIB banking services, and have opened AddressPal.

I'm sure people are posting fewer letters but I still send and receive letters. And all the online sellers have to have a way to post their items. Couriers are not always the best option.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 8:14pm

Widdershins wrote: »

I'm not sure where people think their meat and dairy comes from? There is a reason farmers on or near their farms.

An Post banking would have been great, but they do offer AIB banking services, and have opened AddressPal.

I'm sure people are posting fewer letters but I still send and receive letters. And all the online sellers have to have a way to post their items. Couriers are not always the best option.

Closing post offices doesn't affect your ability to send or receive letters or packages.
You may have to drive further to send oversized items

end of the road · 17-03-2017 8:19pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Closing post offices doesn't affect your ability to send or receive letters or packages.

it will effect the users of the service yes. just because it won't effect you doesn't mean it won't effect others.

LeinsterDub wrote: »

You may have to drive further to send oversized items

those who win their fight to keep their services won't.

17-03-2017 8:23pm

end of the road wrote: »

it will effect the users of the service yes. just because it won't effect you doesn't mean it won't effect others.

those who win their fight to keep their services won't.

The fight didn't help the banks. They closed anyway in small towns around the country.

Widdershins · 17-03-2017 8:31pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Closing post offices doesn't affect your ability to send or receive letters or packages.
You may have to drive further to send oversized items

It affects anyone who doesn't drive or can't drive, and it affects everyone else only to a lesser degree. Being able to get to the local post office on the way to work early in the morning, or just before they close, or on their half day on Saturday morning, makes the difference to people who aren't able to get out during work hours. You might not have seen the parking situation or the queues in the post office in the nearest town to my village. Factoring in the actual drive to town and back on top of that, it will add hours onto a simple job of posting something (that doesn't fit into a letterbox) or other services at the PO.

It's going to make life a lot harder for the elderly and disabled in the villages and outlying areas as well.

SILVAMAN · 17-03-2017 8:38pm

hurler32 wrote: »

Apparently Bobby Kerrs an post report seeks 80 post office closures, Fine Gael reckon this isnt enough and wants to close 200 post offices instead practically all in rural ireland.
Fine Gael closed most rural garda stations which has led to a certain Irish ethnic group been more or less told to do as you please??....how can anyone in Rural Ireland vote Fine Gael at this stage?? unless your a top public servant or a very very large dairy farmer??

I must say I find the service An Post gives to be remarkable, given the cost of a stamp at 72c. Delivery is next day. Happy to pay a bit more.

LeinsterDub · 17-03-2017 8:46pm

Widdershins wrote: »

It affects anyone who doesn't drive or can't drive

You've heard of post boxes right? We are talking about sending letters

Widdershins · 17-03-2017 9:27pm

LeinsterDub wrote: »

You've heard of post boxes right? We are talking about sending letters

Obviously. But I was talking about posting letters AND packages. I'm pretty sure not all village shops sell stamps, either, as weird as it sounds. I could be wrong but I know I was told in at least one of them that I'd have to buy stamps at the PO.

quadrifoglio verde · 17-03-2017 9:29pm

Widdershins wrote: »

It affects anyone who doesn't drive or can't drive, and it affects everyone else only to a lesser degree. Being able to get to the local post office on the way to work early in the morning, or just before they close, or on their half day on Saturday morning, makes the difference to people who aren't able to get out during work hours. You might not have seen the parking situation or the queues in the post office in the nearest town to my village. Factoring in the actual drive to town and back on top of that, it will add hours onto a simple job of posting something (that doesn't fit into a letterbox) or other services at the PO.

It's going to make life a lot harder for the elderly and disabled in the villages and outlying areas as well.

The post office where I am opens when I'm in work. It closes when I'm on my lunch break. If I need to send a parcel, I work around it.
I use parcel motel.

I drive to the local parcel motel to drop of my parcel in one of its lockers. I can do that 24/7.

There's nothing stopping an post putting a 10 box parcel and over sized mail depot in every village in the country. Unmanned and incredibly easy to use.
But no, instead they come up with addresspal where I can only collect a parcel when the post office is open. Which is when I'm working. Except on Saturday's, which is feck all use to me if it arrives the previous Monday

If the post office network was sustainable, they wouldn't be looking to shut 200 of them down. They're not. They're going the way of the carrier pigeon

Widdershins · 17-03-2017 9:43pm

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

The post office where I am opens when I'm in work. It closes when I'm on my lunch break. If I need to send a parcel, I work around it.
I use parcel motel.

I drive to the local parcel motel to drop of my parcel in one of its lockers. I can do that 24/7.

There's nothing stopping an post putting a 10 box parcel and over sized mail depot in every village in the country. Unmanned and incredibly easy to use.
But no, instead they come up with addresspal where I can only collect a parcel when the post office is open. Which is when I'm working. Except on Saturday's, which is feck all use to me if it arrives the previous Monday

If the post office network was sustainable, they wouldn't be looking to shut 200 of them down. They're not. They're going the way of the carrier pigeon

I agree there's room for improvement, and if it's really not viable I can't argue, but it will be a sad loss for villages and will affect some more than you might think. I think you should be ok to collect from addresspal if you can get there on the saturday because they hold it for the full five working days, so they shouldn't send it back until the following Monday. That's no good if you can't make it on the Saturday, and I think they should hold them for 21 days, which is what DPD Parcel Wizard do, afaik.

Victor · 18-03-2017 2:02am

MeTheMan wrote: »

Pensions and social welfare are paid out in the post office. I'm sure most people would be happy to have this paid straight into their bank accounts.

The DSP wants people to sign for these in person as an anti-fraud measure.

Especially those who might get work abroad.

If you are working abroad, you don't get a payment from the DSP.

Widdershins wrote: »

I'm not sure where people think their meat and dairy comes from? There is a reason farmers on or near their farms.

We don't send much meat or dairy by post.

Importantly, many rural dwellers are not involved in farming and would be better off living in towns or villages - if they did, they wouldn't be so car dependent and anti-postal service.

I'm sure people are posting fewer letters but I still send and receive letters.

A disproportionate amount of post comes from a limited number of senders (utilities, banks, government, business) - much of this is printed by An Post.

Widdershins wrote: »

It affects anyone who doesn't drive or can't drive, and it affects everyone else only to a lesser degree.

Again, shouldn't these people live in villages?

Being able to get to the local post office on the way to work early in the morning, or just before they close, or on their half day on Saturday morning, makes the difference to people who aren't able to get out during work hours.

Agreed, this is poor customer service.

You might not have seen the parking situation or the queues in the post office in the nearest town to my village. Factoring in the actual drive to town and back on top of that, it will add hours onto a simple job of posting something (that doesn't fit into a letterbox) or other services at the PO.

I think you exaggerate.

It's going to make life a lot harder for the elderly and disabled in the villages and outlying areas as well.

And this has been foisted on them by people living in the middle of nowhere, who skip the local village or town and shop in a retail park 15km away.

Fine Gael closing down Rural Ireland??

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