An Post and the Irish Postmaster's Union (IPU) are engaged in a review of the 1,275 contracted post offices in a move that is likely to see some closed.
An Post review - closures likely
The review is examining the post office network and pay of postmasters and other issues.
John Kane of the IPU, which represents postmasters contracted to An Post, said many of the existing post offices were not economically viable at the current rates being paid by the company.
An Post contracts postmasters to provide postal services outside its main office network. The review is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month and is likely to result in a number of post offices closing.
According to Mr Kane roughly 450 postmasters have ceased trading since 2001, and he added that part of the network may need to have a public service obligation element that reflected the "social impact of the loss of a post office" to a rural area.
An Post has 200 contracted postal agents who provide social welfare payments and stamp sales in many areas where a post office has closed.
The company has said that Ireland, despite the steady stream of closures in recent years, has by far the highest level of post offices per capita anywhere in Europe.