The Government was today accused by a leading trade unionist of neglecting the post office network and trying to close rural branches "by stealth".
Speaking at the Communications Workers’ Union annual conference in Tralee, union President Mr Paul O’Rorke claimed the Government’s attitude could lead to many post offices being closed in communities that needed them most.
Mr O’Rorke said the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, "knows the price of saving the post office network but has no understanding of the value of it".
He also accused the Government of giving preferential treatment to certain sectors of society.
"It says something about the type of society we live in when the Taoiseach and his Minister for Finance apparently have no difficulty making instant decisions to give enormous amounts of money to their friends in sporting organisations yet they balk at investing in protecting a vital part of the infrastructure of our society," he said.
The CWU represents over 20,000 workers in An Post and Eircom.