The general secretary of the Irish Postmaster's Union has claimed that hundreds of post offices around the country could close over the next two years unless urgent action is taken to improve the income of postmasters.
John Kane said that almost 300 sub-post offices had closed in the last two years. He said that some postmasters were receiving as little as €8000 per year.
Mr Kane was speaking at the annual Irish Postmaster's Union conference in Dundalk earlier today.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, acknowledged that there are challenges facing those in the business.
However, he was upbeat about the future, particularly with regard to the possible involvement of the Belgian bank, Fortis, in providing a rage of financial services through the post office network.
The Minister also spoke about the role of the facilitator appointed to liaise between the postmasters and An Post.
Eamon Ryan has been talking between the two sides to try and resolve differences and secure the financial future of both.
