'No pub, no post office, no shop' - Laois TD says it is 'awful' what's happened to villages

Villages have turned from hives of activity to places where there is 'no pub, no post office and no shop', according to Laois TD Willie Aird.

The Portlaoise-based representative made the remarks when speaking in the Dáil recently about the closure of post offices around Ireland. He highlighted the loss of offices in the smaller communities around Laois.

"Since 2002, when the new currency came into this country, 22 or 23 post offices have closed in Co Laois," he said.

The Fine Gael TD called on the Government to back the remaining post offices in Laois, or more will close, as he claimed has been happening annually. 

"We need to look at the whole structure of the post office. For example, when a contract is up with the postmaster or postmistress, why do the doors close? Obviously, it is because it does not pay them to keep the doors open.

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"If it does not pay them to keep the doors open, it behoves the Government to bring in some scheme that would help address the situation. For too long, I have heard the suggestions to get other payments through the post office, but all of that is history now. The time for talking is over. The time to do business is now," he said.

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The former county councillor said the loss of post offices happened in tandem with the ending of other in-person services.

"I have seen the very same changes in the local authorities and the taxation offices. For years, people would be queuing outside the door of Laois County Council to pay car tax, especially at certain times, at the beginning of the month or whatever. It is all online now. Very few people do anything in person now. Everything is online and can be done on the phone," he said.

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He said that unless there is an intervention by the Government, there will be far fewer post offices. He added that the loss of the post offices is another example of the rural decline he has seen in his lifetime.

"It is awful passing through all our villages now. When I was a young fella they were a hive of activity. Now there is no pub, no post office and no shop," he said.