An Post Kilmacanogue

Two years ago, An Post closed their Kilmacanogue shop due to ‘circumstances beyond An Post’s control’ and the village was promised a review on the decision by the post service. A year later, An Post announced the locations of 159 post offices that would close as part of its restructuring plan. Any restructuring plan of state services is politically sensitive and subject to a lot of local pressure. But the handling of An Post Kilmacanogue’s case was closure by stealth, to stop politicians from interfering in its plans.

I see Kilmacanogue as a village that has grown dramatically in the past twenty years, but the most basic services have failed to keep up. With only one pub and a petrol station, it means people on the receipt of social welfare will have to travel 6km to pick up their entitlements, which they could have walked to collect, 3 years ago.

The failure of Minister Harris and the other Deputies to not realise the area had been sold a pup by An Post is shocking. We’ve seen An Post reverse closure decisions following intense local campaigns and political action. South Kerry is a good example, where a shop’s closure leaves no services for locals in the area and would force people to travel to an alternative post office 15km away in Waterville. The rationale for the reversal was based off the detrimental social impact in the area. How is this different to Kilmac’s situation?

Why can’t our TDs like Simon Harris, who’s in a cabinet position lead a campaign along these lines? My only conclusion is he doesn’t care.