Kilmovee Post Office is a hub of the community – Mulherin

Fine Gael Mayo Senator, Michelle Mulherin, has called for the Government to take action to maintain Kilmovee Post Office.

Speaking on the matter in the Seanad, Senator Mulherin said that the people of Kilmovee people deserve an opportunity to retain their post office.

“Kilmovee Community Centre has had a Post office agency for the last 12 years, under the fine stewardship of the late Nuala Hawkins.

“When Nuala passed away earlier this month, the service was withdrawn. The community in Kilmovee who were in mourning for their local Postmistress, then had to hear that there would be no replacement for her, and the service would be discontinued.

“Kilmovee Community Centre provided a venue for the post office for over the last decade, investing over €60,000 in what is seen as a vital community service.

“The agency was run very successfully at an approximate cost of €10 per week to An Post; the Community Centre subsidized the remainder of the cost involved.

“The post office is a meeting point, a place to go about daily business, catch up with neighbours and a way to keep jobs within our communities, towns and villages.

“Getting transport to alternative post offices will be difficult, especially for older people in the community. These people have been seriously inconvenienced by the sudden closure of the post office.

“Fine Gael remains committed to a viable post office network and is taking a number of steps to secure it. I believe the situation in Kilmovee where the post office is run at almost no cost to An Post warrants urgent attention.

“I know my party colleague Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring established the Post Office Hub Working Group to identify potential models under which post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas.

“I think there is a strong case for Kilmovee as it is a sustainable community hub, providing an essential service.