Rural post office appeal
Deputy Mattie McGrath complained about the rejection of an appeal to keep the Newcastle, County Tipperary post office open and accused Ministers and An Post of avoiding scrutiny. The Communications Minister defended the independent appeals process and said he could not direct the outcome, while other Members interjected about whether the process could be overturned.
My question relates to rural post offices. I am pleased the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is here this afternoon as he refused to come into the Chamber recently to discuss a Topical Issue matter. This is becoming a pattern among Ministers.
An action committee was set up in support of the post office in Newcastle, An Caisleán Nua, in Tipperary. It worked very hard and submitted what I deemed to be a first class professional appeal to the appeals committee that was set up in An Post by the Minister's predecessor. I and other public representatives got a letter on Monday saying the appeal was rejected and the post office would close on 1 February. The action committee that collaborated with the Minister and his staff has not even had the gratification of receiving a reply yet or a yea or nay. Is this the way the so-called independent review body is dealing with the action groups of decent people set up through public meetings who volunteered to work hard, who are being treated in this shambolic way by the Government and its agents in An Post?
It is as if they have been given a slap in the face without even the courtesy of a letter or a reply. I want the Minister to answer, please.
Comment on this
An Post negotiated an arrangement with the postmasters whereby certain people are withdrawing. An Post has entered into commitments that there will be maximum distances from post offices where that occurs.
Comment on this
There are other elements to the protocol. An Post has established an independent person to assess appeals under this process. The person is independent, as I have said. I am not answerable for the decisions of the independent person.
Comment on this
The body is acting on the instruction of An Post. An Post is hiding behind it.
Comment on this
The independent body makes decisions under the protocol in an independent way.
Comment on this
The Minister should ask An Post to respect the process.
Comment on this
We cannot have an independent process and then insist that the outcome should be the way we want it to be.
Comment on this
It is an independent process for assessing an appeal. It does not guarantee the outcome that a particular Deputy wants.
