Despite promises from government that all offline government services would be available through post offices, that has not happened, according to General Secretary of the Irish Postmasters Union, Ned O’Hara.

He is also warning that hundreds of post offices could go out of business this summer when a key state payment scheme is to be reduced. The reduction will put banking services in post offices in jeopardy all over rural Ireland.

The union wants the government to bring in a payment scheme of 17 million euro to help keep post offices in business.

Mr O'Hara says changes promised by government almost two years ago, have not materialised.

He has been telling Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley why many post offices look set to go out of business as a result..