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Fine Gael TD and Minister for State, Andrew Doyle has made a submission to An Post following notice of the closure of Laragh Post Office requesting them to open Expressions of Interest for the Post Office in Laragh.

“An Post has notified the local community of Laragh that the Post Office is due to close at the end of January leaving the community without vital postal services.

“I have been in contact with An Post and expressed my deep concern regarding the closure of the Post Office. I have made a submission to An Post as part of the consultation process, to call for Expressions of Interest in the Post Office in Laragh.

“There may be expressions of interest locally with existing businesses willing to operate a post office service within the community. The continued running of the Post Office in Laragh may be of interest as a standalone entity in the local community or may be suitable to co-locate with an existing business in the area.

“The closure of the Post Office in Laragh would have a detrimental effect on the local community, leading to residents travelling to Rathdrum or Roundwood to avail of postal services.

“I am calling on An Post to open up expressions of interest within the community. I believe it would be successes to co-locate with an existing business within the community. Unless a request for expressions of interest is taken, we will never know if there is interest in the position locally.”

Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and the Gaeltacht Affairs of €500,000 funding for upgrading works in Russborough House, Blessington.

“I am pleased to have received confirmation from my Fine Gael colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys, that funding of €250,000 has been made available by her Department for upgrade works at Russburough House in Blessington, and this amount has been matched by The Apollo Charitable Trust, a UK arts charity.

“Russborough attracts in access of one hundred thousand  visitors to the area each year. We need to ensure the house and the surrounding parkland is safeguarded for future generations. I have been working alongside Minister Humphreys to secure this much needed funding for Russborough House.

“Russborough is a major tourist attraction in west Wicklow with a world famous art collection. The Beit Foundation has great vision for the future of Russborough, developing the House as a centre for education and the arts. This is the first time in a number of years that funding has been made available to Russborough House.

“The planned extension to Blessington Greenway will see increased tourism in the area and add value to the local economy. The house is in the ownership of the Beit Foundation and I must commend them on their efforts to plan ahead and secure a future for Russborough house.”