Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has announced that An Post is to start discussions with interested parties in Knockmore with a view to providing a post office agency in the parish.
Deputy O’Mahony, who is vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, met yesterday with Minister Pat Rabbitte and had follow-up discussions with An Post.
An Post has now confirmed to Deputy O’Mahony that discussions will begin with a view to providing an agency.
“This announcement will enable certain key services from An Post to be provided within the community of Knockmore. I very much welcome this outcome and compliment the action committee and Cllr Seamus Weir on their campaign to save post office services in the parish,” Deputy O’Mahony.
Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin also announced the development, which she said came about ‘following representations at the highest level of Government’ and meetings she had with the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte TD and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Deputy Mulherin stated: “I am absolutely delighted to be informed today by Minister Pat Rabbitte that An Post has now agreed to offer a post office service on an agency basis to the people of Knockmore. This should see basic services at the very least, such as the elderly being able to collect their pensions conveniently in Knockmore. Other services may be available such as stamps, bill pay and mobile phone top-ups.”
“The closure of Knockmore post office and leaving the vast growing parish of Knockmore without even a limited post office service was a matter I had asked the minister and the Taoiseach to take in particular to the chair and members of the board of An Post to challenge the lack of consultation and off-hand manner in which the local community and public representatives had been dealt in response to the massive business case made for retention of services.
“I would like to commend the chairman and the board of An Post for taking a fresh look at the case made and recognising its merits. This will go a distance in restoring confidence that An Post is not just commercially driven and where there is justification An Post can listen to rural communities and their representatives.
“The existing post office is closed since early May when the postmaster, Bill Rodgers and his wife Ann retired after long service. Today's confirmation by An Post for Knockmore is an excellent result and I am delighted to have been in a position to help bring the ‘Campaign to Save Knockmore Post Office’ to the highest level. This campaign was fought long and hard and I would like to compliment the local campaign committee for all their efforts and Councillor Seamus Weir. In particular I want to thank the Taoiseach and Minister Rabbitte for their assistance.
“The challenge for the community is to support their local post office where at all possible, " added Deputy Mulherin.
