TD Richard O'Donoghue: "Post office closure report a wake up call that must not be ignored"
Independent Ireland TD for Limerick County, Richard O'Donoghue, has called on the Government to urgently intervene to support local post offices, warning that without decisive action, these vital community services will continue to vanish from towns and villages across the country.
Deputy O'Donoghue was responding to a recent report from Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters’ Union, which paints a bleak picture for the future of the national post office network. The report warns that, without increased Government investment, over one hundred post offices are at risk of shutting down in the next five years.
“This is a wake-up call that can’t be ignored,” Deputy O'Donoghue said. “Post offices are much more than just places to post a letter or collect a pension. In many rural areas, they are the last remaining public-facing service — a space for connection, reassurance, and community.”
The report recommends a further €17 million in annual State funding to ensure the long-term survival of the network. Deputy O'Donoghue said the cost would be minor compared to the social consequences of allowing post offices to disappear.
“It’s not just a financial issue — it’s about protecting the social fabric of rural Ireland,” he said. “Once a post office closes, it rarely comes back. And with its closure, we lose a trusted local institution that people — especially the elderly — rely on for everyday needs.”
The Limerick TD said it was time for the Government to move beyond token measures and commit to a serious strategy to modernise and maintain the network.
“We need a firm commitment from Government — not just short-term sticking plasters. That means proper funding, new service offerings, and a clear guarantee that every community will retain access to a post office.”
Deputy O'Donoghue also stressed the role that post offices could play in delivering other public services.
“These local hubs should be used more effectively — they could handle more government transactions, help bridge the digital divide, and provide information and support to those who can’t or won’t go online. We need to think creatively instead of letting them quietly disappear.”
He concluded: “If the Government is serious about balanced regional development, then keeping our post offices open has to be a priority. Talk is cheap — what we need now is funding, follow-through, and political will.”
