The Cathaoirleach welcomed the Elected Members, Oireachtas Members, Chief Executive, Director of Services and support staff to the special meeting to discuss the proposed closure of the Roscommon Town Post Office.

Following a meeting of elected representatives and Oireachtas Members, organised by Cllr. Waldron on Monday evening in Hannon’s Hotel, a request to hold a special meeting was sought and facilitated this evening. The meeting on Monday discussed the actions of An Post to close the post office in its current location in the Square and to go to tender for a contractor to run the post office.

The Cathaoirleach detailed the correspondence he sent to Mr. Aengus Laverty of An Post requesting the presence of a representative of management to attend this meeting today including Mr. Laverty as PR representative and Ms. Debbie Byrne of the Management Team. Mr. Laverty declined the invitation stating “having just announced the change publicly and to our staff in the participating post offices on what is an operational matter for An Post it would be inappropriate for us at this stage. As you are aware, we have been more than willing to engage with public representatives to date. There is no question of An Post ceasing its operations in Roscommon as you say. What is happening is that Roscommon town post office will join the 850 plus other post offices across Ireland that are run by Postmasters. Certainly no diminution of service to the people of Roscommon town”

In response, the Cathaoirleach invited An Post to reconsider attendance as they could be facilitated remotely and Mr. Laverty agreed this. However, on being informed that the special meeting would be conducted in the normal manner, i.e. open to the public and via live broadcast, Mr. Laverty once again declined the invitation as “unable to attend a meeting in public session for all the reasons already outlined - staff have just been told and we are dealing with them etc. In those circumstances  cannot attend”

The Cathaoirleach also read a letter of support for the retention of the Post Office in its current location from the Roscommon Older Peoples Network, written by the Chairperson Mr. Bernie Kearney.

The Cathaoirleach invited the Elected Members to speak on the matter:

·         Concern was expressed that An Post referred to this proposed move as an operational matter. This is a semi state company and provides public services. This proposed change would possibly see the post office mover from a landmark building in Roscommon town – this is a mini GPO and an assault on our citizenship. This is the first county town that this has been proposed for change by An Post and we have to say no to this.

·         It is extraordinary that a state service do not feel the need for a presence in our county town. The decimation of the post office service began with the closure of rural post offices and does not sit well with proposed expansion of services that could be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.24