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Ellen’s Week – Touchy subject
All involved in post offices throughout the country must be on their way to Dublin to throw their arms around Minister Pat Rabbitte following his lengthy statement on Wednesday on how secure An Post is in the context of rural Ireland.
"The post office has a unique standing in Irish life . . . the post office network has evolved a social role . . . highly valued by local communities. Perhaps that social role is most valued in rural Ireland . . ." etc., etc.
He lauds the fact that 'only 17' post office have closed since 2010' - however those were 17 too many for the communities involved.
He accepts that An Post's accessibility 'to virtually everyone in the country' is one of the company’s main strengths and says the increasing use of newer technologies should be viewed 'as an opportunity to grasp rather than a problem to eradicate'.
He speaks of rural sustainability and future development. "There are wide range of issues to be tackled to ensure the economic continuity of businesses and communities in rural areas."
All sounded reasonably positive until towards the end of his lengthy statement he flagged 'the phenomenon of retail concentration' and the fact that 'commercial and trading businesses are moving out of small rural towns into supermarkets based in larger county and provincial centres'. His reference to this as being 'a significant threat to the company if it does not respond', really makes one wonder what he really means?
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