Galway East independent TD Seán Canney has introduced a motion in Private Members' Business on foot of what he says is the government's lack of action in supporting the post offices.

The motion follows from a previous motion in October last year by the Regional Group of TDs, of which deputy Canney is a member.

He said: “The post office network is on a cliff edge and without government support we will see the closure of post offices across the region."

There are a number of ways the regional independent TDs feel that the government can support the post office network.

Some of the points they make are as follows:

The first motion by the Regional Group of TDs on October 21, last year, was agreed but was deferred for six months at that time.

Deputy Canney has said that he believes that people recognise that a sustainable nationwide post office network is a "key component of the economic and social infrastructure in both rural and urban areas".

He added that post offices provide crucial public and financial services to communities all around Ireland, especially in rural and isolated areas.

The independent TD said that since the start of this month, post offices have faced a major challenge as a significant reduction in payment rates takes effect.

“I have seen first-hand the devastation the closure of a post office has caused to rural communities such as Eyrecourt, Caherlistrane, Ballyglunin and Ardrahan [in Co. Galway]. It is appalling," the deputy said.

“We cannot continue to pay lip service to this very important issue; we must act now," he concluded.