An Post welcomes 3-year support package for Postmasters

An Post has welcomed today’s announcement of a 3-year package of support for Postmasters to underpin the vital role and infrastructure of the national post office network, central to Irish life and commerce. 

The pandemic has accelerated some of the challenges facing the network, particularly in relation to the use of cash and digital substitution. An Post has committed to an expansion of services built around 4 key growth areas: 

·       Community Banking for all – diversifying and growing financial services products for consumers and SMEs through An Post Money, Travel Money, partnerships with Bank of Ireland and AIB and a range of State Savings products 

·       E-Commerce enablement – making online shopping easier with parcel and mail services including out-of-hours collections, returns, tracking, payments  and redirections 

·       One-Stop-Shop for Government Services – expanded range of local and central government services making it easier for citizens to interact with the State and to support the Government’s National Digital Strategy 

·       Other new services - expanding the range of services like Leap, Green Hub, Western Union, Gifting  

Debbie Byrne, MD of An Post Retail said “An Post welcomes today’s announcement of the time bound package of support for Postmasters to support a sustainable Post Office network in communities across the country. The pandemic has accelerated some of the headwinds facing the network. Today’s announcement creates space to accelerate the transformation and commercialisation of the network once again to ensure a relevant and commercially viable network delivering more services to citizens and small businesses.”  

Over the last three years, An Post has invested more than €60m to transform the Post Office network and build a sustainable business for Postmasters. Additionally, a Pandemic Relief fund of €8.5m was made available to support Postmasters and cushion the effects of lost revenues as they kept their doors open to serve communities during the Pandemic.