Progress has been made in talks with strike-threat postmasters, it emerged tonight.
The Irish Postmasters' Union was due to march on the Dáil today over the crisis it claims is facing the national post office network.
The group, which has also threatened to field candidates in the upcoming general election, said 300 postmasters have left the business over the last two years.
The IPU called on the Government to secure the retention of income-generating services like social welfare payments, TV licences, post office savings.
Communications Minister Noel Dempsey today told the Government that progress had been made in discussions between his department and the IPU.
"The minister also briefed the Cabinet on a forthcoming European Commission directive on the liberalisation of the postal market," a Government spokeswoman said.
The IPU claims that the network has dwindled from 1,750 post offices in 2001 to less than 1,300 today.