I have been onto An Post and received written confirmation that there will be no closure of any post offices in North Wicklow. They have told me that there is a long term plan to group postal sorting staff in Bray and Greystones on one site. This would entail considerable investment by An Post in the North Wicklow area and improvements in the processing of local mail. Crucially, they have also confirmed that there would be no job losses, just better working conditions for staff and a better service for customers. Regardless of any planned changes, the same postman or woman will still deliver the mail in the usual way.

They were keen to stress that this process is at the very early stages and nothing will happen in the short to medium term. If any constituents have any questions regarding An Post’s plans in Wicklow, please get in touch with me and, hopefully, I can clarify the situation.

Here is the statement from An Post:

“There is a long term plan to group our postal sorting staff in Bray and Greystones in a unified campus ideally on a site south of Bray. This would mean considerable investment by An Post in the North Wicklow area, improvements in the processing of local mail and in the working conditions of our staff. We have yet to source such a premises or location so you will appreciate the sensitivity about such an operation.

This process is at the very early stages and nothing will happen in the short to medium term. But be assured that this is all being considered with a view to improving the mails service and the working conditions of our postmen and women.

An Post is constantly reviewing its mails operations with a view to improving the service to customers and ensures the viability of the company. You will be aware that mail volumes have dropped dramatically in recent years. With that fact in mind our focus is on efficiency and customer service.

In recent years we have invested heavily in our mails operation and in purpose built and fitted Delivery Services Units throughout the country. This is exactly what we would hope to achieve in North Wicklow. We would be able to process mail and house our postal staff in a purpose fitted state of the art facility of the standard expected of a modern business.

Such a move would have no impact on local customers save a more efficient processing of their mail. The same postman or woman will still be delivering the mail in the usual way.

Equally there is no impact on the local post office. Indeed undelivered mail will be available for collection there in the future.”

And in a follow up mail they added: “No job losses just better working conditions.”