A number of community organisations are attending a meeting in Dublin aimed at safeguarding the future of local post offices.
The discussions, organised by the Irish Postmasters' Union, are being attended by several voluntary groups including the Irish Farmers' Association, Age Action, the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed and Irish Rural Link.
IPU's General Secretary John Kane said there was a clear need for a structured policy to protect the post office network.
The union says the service will collapse in a few years if the Government does not implement specific policies to safeguard it.
It is calling for a Public Service Obligation for An Post to ensure the availability of services in rural areas, which may not be financially viable but are 'socially essential'.
The union also says all offices should be computerised and is seeking a renewed commitment that social welfare payments will be available at post offices.
