Time for Fianna Fáil to put up or shut up on Donard Post Office-Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has said that he is disappointed with the decision to go ahead and close Donard Post Office by the independent reviewers. Brady also questioned the independence of the reviewers and said that it’s now purely a political decision that will keep open or close Donard Post Office.

Speaking this week after An Post confirmed that following the review or a substantial number of appeals to the independent review body the closure of Donard post Office will now go ahead at the end of December Teachta Brady said “Whilst I’m deeply disappointed with the decision taken by the review group to go ahead with the closure of Donard post office, I’m not surprised. The review group just looked to ensure that the criteria that was laid down by An Post was adhered to when the decision was taken to close the post office. It didn’t look at the social or economic impact the decision would have, nor did it look at alternatives such as community run post offices.”

“Unbelievably it was An Post that informed the many people this week by post that the decision to close Donard post office was upheld and not the independent review body where the many appeals were sent to. It was a standard template reply that didn’t address the individual points that were made; I believe that the entire review process lack credibility and calls into question the independence of the entire process. The full review document, detailing how each point we made was dealt with, in particular the points about population and distance for over one third of the community from the replacement post office should now be made public.”

Teachta Brady continued “From the outset it was apparent that only government action would save all 159 post offices earmarked for closure in this round of cuts. Despite all the talk from Fianna Fáil TDs about keeping the post offices open, it was surprising not to see any provision in the recent Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil negotiated budget to ensure Donard and the other post offices remain open. With a change of Minister and the commencement of discussions on the Confidence and Supply arrangements between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, this is now where the focus will be. It is now time for Fianna Fáil to stop trying to ride two horses, they need to put up or shut up and ensure that Donard and the other post offices remain open”.

Teachta Brady concluded “The Government must act to save these post offices, they can’t be silent bystanders and allow the heart be ripped out of rural Ireland. I look forward to welcoming members of the Save Donard Post Office Group to the Dáil next Tuesday when they will take their protest to the Minister for Communications Richard Bruton, arriving with a convoy of tractors and 4x4’s.”