Another first for Kildare as An Post launch national pilot programme 'Digital Assist' next Friday in rural village post office.
The first in Ireland to introduce Video Doc at the Hub, Fogarty’s Post Office, Ballymore Eustace has yet another feather in its cap as Denis Naughten, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, TD will officially launch An Post’s ‘Digital Assist’ on Friday next in the quiet rural village at 11.30am.
A new booth which will aid customers to access greater government services, financial and e-commerce services which will be introduced to 10 rural post offices across the country, with Ballymore Eustace the first one to launch the new initiative. This new pilot programme is part of the transformation of post offices and funding of €80,000 has been provided by fellow Cabinet colleague, Micheal Ring, Minister for Community and Rural Development, TD.
Minister Naughten stated: "The local Post Office is best placed to provide support for people who do not want to go online to carry out their day to day business. Representing the largest retail network in Ireland, the network of post offices is the obvious choice as the "offline gateway" for people with its reach, trusted brand and existing strong relationship in our local communities."
"In this context, I asked An Post to develop the concept of 'Digital Assist' whereby the Post Office would provide access for people to a wide range of Government services”.
Sean Fogarty, Proprietor, Ballymore Eustace Post Office Minister Ring added: "This initiative has the potential to improve access to essential government services and act as a model for rural post offices revitalisation. Post offices are central to rural Ireland and act as an important gateway to government services for many older and vulnerable people”.
The 'vulnerable people' in several rural communities across Co Kildare and West Wicklow - such as Moone and Donadea, and Donard, Co Wicklow - might ask why this initiative wasn’t introduced to the post offices now marked for closure, but then broadband services are poor in South Kildare and hit and miss in Co Wicklow.
Friday next, September 28 in Ballymore Eustace, Fogarty’s Post Office, at 11.30am for the launch of a new nationwide programme ‘Digital Assist’. All welcome to attend.
Feature photograph by Christy Dennison, Ballymore Bugle of Sean and Julia Fogarty, outside Fogarty's Post Office for the recent Craft Fair in aid of SOS Wellness Workshop.