An independent TD has described the announced closure of some Bank of Ireland branches in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as “yet another attack on rural Ireland”.
Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice has said that 20% of the closures in the Republic of Ireland will take place across the west and north-west.
“This is yet another effort to whittle down the services available to people in rural Ireland,” the deputy said.
The branches closing are predominately self-service locations which do not offer a counter service, the bank said in a statement.
‘Vulnerable in society’
“To announce these closures in the midst of a lockdown heaps further anxiety on the most vulnerable in our society, who prefer interacting with a human to complete their transactions rather than a machine,” deputy Fitzmaurice said.
While the bank may point towards the uptake in online banking and the surge in use of its app, that will mean little to elderly people or anyone who is not technologically savvy.
“There are 17 branches across Connacht and Donegal which are set to close, according to this morning’s announcement – many of which cover large rural areas,” the deputy added.
“The partnership with An Post is a welcome development, but how secure is this partnership moving forward? Given the state of play with An Post at present, could you depend on all of these post offices remaining open in the long run?”
“If a postmaster or postmistress retires or passes away, the community shouldn’t have to live in fear that they will lose yet another service,” Fitzmaurice concluded.