Ballybrittas Post Office must be retained
Responding to the possible closure of Ballybrittas Post Office Sinn Féin T D Brian Stanley said.
With the retirement of the Post Mistress in a few weeks it is imperative that An Post advertise the position immediately so as to secure the future of this vital service in the area. It is wrong to close the P O at a time when the Postmasters Union, Government and An Post are involved in two working groups to develop a strategy for the future of the Post Office Network.
I attended a meeting with the local community this week and have been in contact with senior management of An Post to arrange a meeting with them so as to press the case for the retention of the facility.
With a significant increase in the population in the Ballybrittas and Killenard area in recent years, there are now more people dependent on its services than ever before.
Along with the normal postal services, the Post Office in Ballybrittas provides a wide range of other services such as banking, bill paying facilities, passport express etc.
Some people in the community rely on the banking service due to the Post Office having longer opening hours than banks. It is a facility that could also be further developed to cater for the many small businesses in the area. Elderly people depend on it to collect payments/pay bills etc. with ease and without having to travel too far.
I am concerned that without Ballybrittas Post Office and these banking services, some elderly residents in the area will be left more vulnerable to rural crime.
A number of other Post Offices have closed in nearby areas such as The Heath and Vicarstown, therefore securing the future of Ballybrittas Post Office is crucial”. “
