Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

The Rural Development Minister, Michelle O’Neill, recently met with Consumer Focus post to discuss developments in postal services and the post office network in Northern Ireland.   

Rural postal services are the backbone of many rural communities.  It was therefore reassuring to hear the Minister outlining her desire to support rural post offices and to ensure the needs of rural communities are fully considered as part of the future provision of postal services. 

Highlighting the valued contribution of post offices to local community life, Minister O’Neill said: “Within rural communities the local post office is more than just a service provider.  It is a place to meet up with neighbours and catch up with local news.  This opportunity for social interaction is of enormous benefit to some of the most isolated and vulnerable groups in rural areas and can help address feelings of exclusion and isolation.”

Countryside Alliance Ireland realises the value of rural postal services and the importance it holds for many people in rural areas who rely on the personal service traditionally provided.  It is for these reasons that we will do our utmost to ensure this service remains and we welcome the comments made by Minister O’Neill.   

The Minister also commented, “I am keen to see local communities getting more involved and taking the initiative in coming up with solutions to help secure the future of their local post office services. I am committed to doing what I can to assist this process and will be writing to the Minister for Postal Affairs highlighting my concerns.”