Fears TV Licence tendering could lead to more post office closures

 

There are fears that plans to re tender the contract for TV Licence renewal could lead to the closure of more post offices.
Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has called on the Government to delay the tendering of the TV licence fee until significant investment is made into the Post Office network.
That has been echoed by the Irish Postmasters Union.
IPU Donegal Spokesperson, Fionla McBride says the TV renewal service lies within a much wider challenge which the Government needs to do much more to address.
Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has hit out against the retendering of the TV licence as part of the recently announced Broadcasting Bill.
He fears the retendering for collection of the fee to a different utility could spell the end for a number of post offices in Donegal, unless the promised significant investment is made into the network beforehand.
He says the Government has failed to expand the range of public services to be provided through the Post Office network as part of a major plan agreed last year.
The Irish Postmasters Union claim the collection of TV Licence fees is worth €3 million to the Network annually.
Its Donegal Spokesperson, Finola McBride says as online transactions increase and over-the-counter transactions reduce and are not replaced – hundreds more Post Office face short-term threat of closure.
She too, has called on the Government to publish a plan with details of additional services which can be provided by the network.