A €35 million (£44 million) investment programme to modernise rural post offices over three years by developing them as technology centres for the community has been outlined by Muintir na Tíre.
The voluntary organisation said post offices could be made more economically viable by the introduction of new technology, including ATMs and internet access and by providing a one-stop shop for Government services.
An Post said recently it wanted to cut 1,140 staff from its workforce before the end of 2003. Its chief executive, Mr John Hynes, said the company lost €7 million last year.
At a press conference yesterday, Mr J.J. Bunyan of Muintir Na Tíre said : "We are speaking for the ordinary consumer in rural Ireland who has not had a voice in a debate that directly affects their everyday lives. We recognise that the current level of service provided by the average post office does not meet the needs of local communities and is not commercially viable."
He told RTÉ's News at One: "We have to get away from the dead hand of the Civil Service. An Post has a Civil Service ethos and background."
Muintir Na Tíre said public-private partnerships "must be developed to provide additional profitability". Its suggestions for post offices included network banking arrangements and, in partnership with e-commerce operations, to operate as distribution centres for goods ordered over the internet.
Muintir Na Tíre also said it advocated the development of post offices into a one-stop shop for Government services using e-commerce. These would include services such as applying for motor tax, driving licences and birth certificates.
They could also provide support to tourism, including the provision of foreign exchange services. The plan, it said, would have benefits for the Government, the Irish Postmasters Union and An Post.
"The Muintir na Tíre paper is a useful contribution to the current debate about post offices," An Post said yesterday.
"The world's best technology is deployed by An Post in more than 1,000 automated post offices throughout the country. The reach and scope of this technology has enabled the post offices division to widen enormously the range and quality of business now conducted at these offices."