An Post has announced that it is set to invest €50 million to 'grow and modernise the network' as it has reached a new deal with its postmasters.
The agreement comes after three months of intense discussions between the Irish Postmasters’ Union and An Post.
The company has committed to a post office for every community of over 500 people, within 15km of 95% of the population, and 3km in urban areas, reports thejournal.ie.
The newly-formed division An Post Retail will have responsibility for post offices, bill pay and post insurance.
“While there will be some consolidation to ensure post offices are conveniently and properly located there will be no compulsory closures," said An Post
"The transfer of business to neighbouring offices will ensure the continued viability of these smaller offices in meeting the needs of the community. An Post will open up to 20 new offices in communities of 500+, currently without a post office."
Modernising An Post
In an effort to modernise the services provided by An Post, it will reportedly focus on a number of different areas such as e-commerce, community financial services and offering a range of government services.
Other new services will include 'local banking services, out-of-hours collections and tracking as well as the addition of new formats for e-commerce and parcels within the post offices.'
The Irish Postmasters’ Union said in a statement that its executive unanimously supported the proposals, and will ballot it to members over the coming weeks.
“We believe that this is the best possible negotiated solution for the future of the post office network," said Paddy McCann, president An Post.
"It ensures viability of as large a network as possible, ensures that the public will continue to get an excellent and expanded service and provides viability and clarity for postmasters."
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
