Local Post Office candidates withdraw

TWO local Community and Post Office candidates have decided not to contest the general election following a national meeting of Postmasters in Portlaoise last week.

Blanchardstown postmaster Geoff Boyle and Cabra Postmaster Andrew Kelly had intended to run in in Dublin West and Dublin Central.

However, the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) will no longer be running candidates following the establishment of two working groups to implement the Bobby Kerr Report on the future of post offices and a Government commitment to develop a detailed a five year strategy for the post office network.

IPU President Paddy McCann thanked the candidates for their “courage, hard work and commitment”.

“Geoff Boyle in Dublin West is to be congratulated and thanked for being an advocate for his community and for Post Offices,” he said.

“His work has helped bring us to a point where two groups – including postmasters, Government and An Post – are now working on detailed solutions towards a sustainable future for the post office network.”

Boyle thanked members of the public for the “widespread support and encouragement” he had received since announcing his candidacy last autumn.

“I am very grateful for the warm support I have received in recent months,” he said.

“We face serious challenges to keep our communities vibrant and it is imperative that the commitments and recommendations in the Bobby Kerr Report are now progressed in a meaningful and timely manner. If this does not happen Postmasters will remain open to running candidates in future election campaigns.”