New contract for Ardnaree post office a win for local community- Mulherin

A new contract has been awarded to Ardnaree post office to safeguard its future, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Mayo Senator Michelle Mulherin thanked local people for their participation in the public consultation and said the retention of the post office will strengthen the community.

Senator Mulherin said: “I was the first person to raise concerns about a possible closure of the post office, prompting An Post to conduct a public consultation.

“I called for the contract to be re-advertised, going directly to An Post Management, Minister Naughten and Minister Ring to fight the case for the local community.

“I worked with the local Save Ardnaree Committee and I am delighted with this outcome which Minister Naughten has informed me of this morning.

“Fine Gael is committed to building a sustainable future for rural Ireland, and this includes ensuring vital services are retained in local communities.

“There were 58 post office closures across Mayo under Fianna Fáil-led Governments between 2002 and 2010.

“This Government is committed to ensuring that we learn the lessons from the past and do not repeat them.

“The safeguarding of Ardnaree post office paves the way for more good news for rural Ireland in the weeks, months and years ahead.

“We have emerged from a lost decade due to the hard work of the Irish people and we, as a Government, must put in place plans that will guide our development as a country for the next generation.

“That is why we are bringing forward the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan together so that investment follows the plan.

“Large sections of the plan are devoted to rural growth and ensuring that our wider rural hinterlands are supported to grow and build a sustainable future.”

ENDS