Phibsborough Post Office ‘not closing’

AN POST has said there’s “no question” of Phibsborough Post Office closing despite local petitions asking for it to be kept open.

Local Labour party representatives have organised a public meeting for this week following rumours that the office on North Circular Road was set for closure.

However, An Post says it’s tendering for a contractor to run the local post office, along with six others nationwide, but is adamant it will remain open and that all current services provided will be retained.

“The change in business model for Phibsborough will not in any way change the range or extent of the services offered by An Post,” a spokesperson said.

“We remain committed to providing the area with the highest level of services for the future.”

Phibsborough Post Office serves residents in the Phibsborough area as well as locals from East Cabra and Labour party representative, Marie Sherlock, believes there’s still cause for concern.

“This is a really worrying development,” she said. “Phibsborough post office serves a large population and is a critical resource for pensioners, social welfare recipients, those who need to purchase bin tags and pay their bills and the many residents who depend on the services within the post office.

“I understand there is a commitment to contract out the post office service to a private provider but there is no guarantee as to the range of services that will be offered in future and no clarity as to where this will be located."

Phibsborough Post Office is one of just 50 out of 1,125 offices nationwide nationwide run by An Post. Private contractors operate the rest.

The company says the contractor model has provided the bulk of post office services throughout the history of An Post and points out that more than 95 per cent of post offices are currently operated by contractors rather than company staff.

“An Post, as a commercial semi state company, has an obligation to operate in a commercial manner,” the spokesperson said.

“In the late 1990s we recognised the challenges that we faced in our retail business, principally from greater choice being available to customers for many of our traditional services and price pressure from our corporate clients.

“This led, in 2002, to an agreement with the Communication Workers Union for an initial change programme in up to 50 offices. This process has continued to the present day.”

An Post says its strategy is to increase the number and range of services available to customers and in post offices and it remains committed to introducing new services.

But former Labour party Dublin Central TD, Joe Costello, isn’t convinced that’ll be the case.

“Closing a branch post office is a big downgrading,” he said.

“An Post lacks a coherent plan and seems to be only interested in reducing or downgrading services.

“We’ll be strongly opposing this and fighting to keep it open.”

A public meeting on the issue will be held at 7pm on Thursday,  November 16 in the Panama Scout Hall, Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough. An online has been posted online at my.uplift.ie/petitions/keep-phibsborough-post-office-open.