20 May 1999 Edition

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O Caoláin slams government on rural post offices

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin has severely criticised the government for deferring until after the local elections a decision on tendering out the delivery of social welfare payments, now administered from post offices.

Speaking at the launch of Sinn Féin's local government election campaign, O Caoláin said that the cynicism of the Fianna Fáil/PD government with regard to local democracy and local communities is perfectly illustrated by their attitude to rural post offices

``We learn today that the government has deferred until after the local elections a decision to bow to an EU diktat and put social welfare payments out to tender. This would mean the closure of hundreds of rural post offices throughout the State. It would probably place the lucrative contract for social welfare in the hands of the already massively profitable and exploitative

banks. Sinn Féin will fight this proposal tooth and nail'', O Caoláin said.

An Phoblacht
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