Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Bill 2026 [Certified Money Bill]: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-14
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Chris Andrews (SF), Labour Panel

Sinn Féin welcomes this Bill and its proposals to support the post office network. This needs to be supported across the State in both rural and urban areas, which was why we proposed an investment of €15 million in funding for postal services in our alternative budget last year.
Sinn Féin has long supported a new public service mandate for our post office services, backed by strategic investment in an expanded range of services and better conditions for postmasters, to ensure that the existence of post offices is safeguarded in the long term. Post offices are often the last remaining public service in many communities and play a proven and irreplaceable role in supporting social cohesion, offering critical services and access for older people, vulnerable citizens and marginalised communities. For this reason, it is vital that the Government commits to a structured multi-annual investment that would safeguard these services well into the future.
I raise the issue of Rathmines post office, which will close this Friday. This is a devastating blow for the local community and staff alike. The building is likely to be put on the market in the middle of next year but, as of now, there is no plan for this historical building to stay in public hands. It would be a huge loss to allow a building as magnificent as this to leave public ownership. An Post is planning on selling off this beautiful Art Deco building, which has been the home of Rathmines post office for almost 90 years and is an iconic feature in the local community. There is a real risk that the building will be sold off to a private developer and left to lie derelict for years on end, or otherwise be removed from public or community use. Rathmines post office is a vital part of the social infrastructure in the Rathmines community, which has already lost a number of important services over recent years. This building needs to be kept in public ownership for the use of the community. To sell it off without a plan would be an act of recklessness. There are some proposals from local community activists about what might go into the space. It should be a central community hub for Rathmines. It could be the heart of cultural or community activities, or both. We need to see ambitious forward-thinking action taken by the State to ensure this property remains in public and community use and the long-term good of Rathmines is not left to chance.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-14/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:15+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-14