An Post has today introduced a newspaper delivery service, which will provide same-day delivery to households nationwide Monday to Friday.
Deliveries will be made free-of-charge by An Post for older and vulnerable customers currently ‘cocooning’ during the Covid 19 crisis, the company said.
“Staying connected as we remain apart is important for everybody so having the national or local paper to read is a real practical support and comfort to customers of all ages,” explained Garrett Bridgeman, managing director of An Post Mails & Parcels.
“We’ve worked at speed with the national and local newspapers to put this country-wide service in place. While delivery services already exist in some urban areas, An Post Newspaper Delivery will be of particular interest to rural customers”.
‘Request a Check-in’
An Post also announced the introduced a ‘Request a Check-In’ service, a facility for family members to request a specific ‘An Post Check-In’ by the local postman or postwoman for an older or vulnerable person during the current ‘Cocooning’ period.
Should the customer have any specific needs for groceries or prescription, the postperson will provide them with details of ALONE, the national charity ensuring personal support to older and vulnerable people during the current crisis or where necessary, will contact ALONE on their behalf, linking them in to the wider Local Authority Community Response Forum, the group explained.
“Our postmen and postwomen are calling in to older and vulnerable customers along their postal routes but we have been getting messages from concerned family members living in other areas of the country or abroad requesting specific ‘check-ins’ for relatives," explained Bridgeman.
“Working with our dedicated and trusted staff, and the Communications Workers Union, we are delighted to put this new facility in place free-of-charge free, combining the digital and physical delivery sides of the business for the common good”.
'Capable and Clued-in'
“An Post delivery staff are all security-cleared, capable and clued-in. We know that our people are already providing huge support to many older and isolated people along their postal route, or as part of community volunteering efforts,” added David McRedmond, CEO An Post, “now we’ll be linking formally with local health and welfare services to ensure the best support for vulnerable customers”.
“The health and safety of our staff is paramount and we will we adhering to HSE protocols at all times," he added,
“As more bank branches and other retailers close and more people stay close to home, our dual, trusted, essential services of the Post Office and the Postal Service can play an even more central role for individuals and communities,” McRedmond said.
The state-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland currently collects, processes and delivers in the region of 2.5 million items of mail to 2.2 million business and residential addresses.
Customers can find out more about ordering their chosen newspaper through anpost.com
© 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
