By Rodney Farry
rodney@leitrimpost.com
The public has a vital role to play in ensuring the survival of Leitrim’s rural post offices according to Councillor Aodh Flynn.
Figures released last week by the St Vincent de Paul society revealed that 41% of the county’s contractor-operated offices closed between the years 2002-2005, the highest percentage in Ireland.
Speaking to the Leitrim Post last week, Councillor Flynn, who has been the Postmaster in Manorhamilton for over 40 years, said that for many local post-office contractors it simply isn’t financial viable to continue in business.
“For people who are in minimal offices the salary is only around €10,000 once they have paid rates, insurance, heat and light. For that they have to put in 41.5 hours a week which works out at about €5 per hour.”
Cllr Flynn also noted that the fact that the majority of social welfare recipients are now getting their allowances paid directly into their bank accounts is “killing” smaller post offices as this used to account for almost 80% of their annual business.“
Unless communities are prepared to support post offices and conduct their business through it, then they’ll close it’s as simple as that.”
If the public doesn’t start using their local post office more, Cllr Flynn said that he fears that within five or ten years, services will be confined to three or four of the Leitrim’s largest towns.
“That scenario will have major repercussions for the delivery of mail. A lot of people are out working during the day and they find that if the postman calls with a parcel or registered letter, he leaves in a note to collect it in the local office. In a few years time that nearest office might be 20 miles away,” he concluded.