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14/11/2008
Warm Welcome For Post Office Pensions' Deal
There was cross-party agreement in Northern Ireland this week to welcome the news of Royal Mail's success in retaining the benefit's payment system for its Post Office outlets.
Robin Newton, the East Belfast DUP MLA, (pictured) welcomed Royal Mail's winning the contract to handle pensions and benefits payments.
Robin Newton said: "There was great concern throughout the UK about the potential for another swathe of Post Office closures if the Government had not awarded the contract for pension payouts to Post Office Card Account.
"This accounts for a substantial amount of the income of any individual post office and a failure to win this contract would at the very least have damaged the survival prospects - or could even have led to the closure of up to 3,000 UK urban and rural Post Offices, many of which could have been in Northern Ireland," he said.
He noted that for the many elderly people - already seriously disadvantaged by earlier closures - this could have been a further blow.
"A post office is important to the life of a community. The decision to award the contract to Royal Mail will see senior citizens able to continue to collect their pensions in the friendly and convenient environments they have become previously enjoyed."
Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin Mayor of Limavady - who is also a local postmistress - warmly welcomed the decision by the Department of Work and Pensions to issue the contract to allow Post Offices to receive and dispense people's pensions and benefits.
Brenda Chivers said: "The announcement is a positive one and one that will be well received.
"It will allow a greater amount of access for people on benefits and pensions to access those benefits in a convenient and practical way," she said, noting that, for many people - especially older people - the post office provides a community-based, local focal point for these transactions.
She also said this will aid the sustainability of many post offices, especially those in rural areas providing an essential service that many in the community will avail of therefore aiding local employment.
"These factors of course are to be welcomed but to ensure the continued survival of many of these local post offices more services need to be offered.
"This is the only way to guarantee the future of what many in the community see as a valuable service."
See: £1bn Post Office Contract Welcomed
(BMcC)
Robin Newton, the East Belfast DUP MLA, (pictured) welcomed Royal Mail's winning the contract to handle pensions and benefits payments.
Robin Newton said: "There was great concern throughout the UK about the potential for another swathe of Post Office closures if the Government had not awarded the contract for pension payouts to Post Office Card Account.
"This accounts for a substantial amount of the income of any individual post office and a failure to win this contract would at the very least have damaged the survival prospects - or could even have led to the closure of up to 3,000 UK urban and rural Post Offices, many of which could have been in Northern Ireland," he said.
He noted that for the many elderly people - already seriously disadvantaged by earlier closures - this could have been a further blow.
"A post office is important to the life of a community. The decision to award the contract to Royal Mail will see senior citizens able to continue to collect their pensions in the friendly and convenient environments they have become previously enjoyed."
Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin Mayor of Limavady - who is also a local postmistress - warmly welcomed the decision by the Department of Work and Pensions to issue the contract to allow Post Offices to receive and dispense people's pensions and benefits.
Brenda Chivers said: "The announcement is a positive one and one that will be well received.
"It will allow a greater amount of access for people on benefits and pensions to access those benefits in a convenient and practical way," she said, noting that, for many people - especially older people - the post office provides a community-based, local focal point for these transactions.
She also said this will aid the sustainability of many post offices, especially those in rural areas providing an essential service that many in the community will avail of therefore aiding local employment.
"These factors of course are to be welcomed but to ensure the continued survival of many of these local post offices more services need to be offered.
"This is the only way to guarantee the future of what many in the community see as a valuable service."
See: £1bn Post Office Contract Welcomed
(BMcC)
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03 June 2008
Four NI Post Offices Spared As 38 Axed
The 'listening' post office has announced it is to heed at least some of the matters raised in its recent public consultation on proposed NI branch closures - and is going to spare a total of four outlets originally earmarked to shut or change status.
Four NI Post Offices Spared As 38 Axed
The 'listening' post office has announced it is to heed at least some of the matters raised in its recent public consultation on proposed NI branch closures - and is going to spare a total of four outlets originally earmarked to shut or change status.
02 December 2002
£20m cash boost for rural post offices announced
Rural post offices in Northern Ireland are set to receive more than £6.9 million-a-year for the next three years, in the largest ever government support package for this vital community service. The money is part of a £450 million national fund to safeguard the future of thousands of rural post offices, which was unveiled by the government today.
£20m cash boost for rural post offices announced
Rural post offices in Northern Ireland are set to receive more than £6.9 million-a-year for the next three years, in the largest ever government support package for this vital community service. The money is part of a £450 million national fund to safeguard the future of thousands of rural post offices, which was unveiled by the government today.
27 July 2007
Post Office staff to stage walkout
Further postal strikes will continue today with the expected half-day strike of counter staff at nine post offices. The nine post offices affected are in Newtownards, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine, Londonderry, Lisburn and two in Belfast. The walkout will be the fifth in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions and will begin at 2.30pm.
Post Office staff to stage walkout
Further postal strikes will continue today with the expected half-day strike of counter staff at nine post offices. The nine post offices affected are in Newtownards, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine, Londonderry, Lisburn and two in Belfast. The walkout will be the fifth in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions and will begin at 2.30pm.
23 January 2006
Loss of contract could cause Post Office collapse
The Post Office network in Northern Ireland "will collapse" if the plans to change welfare benefit payments are implemented. The warning stems from the government's refusal to renew the £1 billion contract for the Post Office Card Account. This account is used by around 4.
Loss of contract could cause Post Office collapse
The Post Office network in Northern Ireland "will collapse" if the plans to change welfare benefit payments are implemented. The warning stems from the government's refusal to renew the £1 billion contract for the Post Office Card Account. This account is used by around 4.
21 October 2009
Postal Strike Hits NI
Postal staff are to go on strike this Thursday. The talking is over - for now - as attempts to broker a deal with postal staff have failed to halt industrial action.
Postal Strike Hits NI
Postal staff are to go on strike this Thursday. The talking is over - for now - as attempts to broker a deal with postal staff have failed to halt industrial action.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
