9 October 2018
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
‘Digital Assist’ – A new Government funded service offering unique access for people to Government websites and information will be available in Kanturk Post Office shortly.
Kanturk is one of 10 Post Offices nationwide to be chosen to deliver this service which will see a touch screen kiosk installed that will offer easy access to web based Government and local authority information and services. The specially designed units offer citizens the chance to navigate Government websites with the help of trained post office staff. In addition customers can print Government application forms and information brochures free of charge.
The first ‘Digital Assist’ Unit was unveiled last week by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten TD in Ballymore Eustace Post Office in Co Kildare which is located in Fogarty’s Quikpick in the centre of the village.
The other nine post offices where Digital Assist is being piloted are:
· Kanturk, Co. Cork
· Carndonagh, Co. Donegal
· Athenry, Co. Galway
· Castleisland, Co. Kerry
· Crossmolina, Co. Mayo
· Newbliss, Co. Monaghan
· Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
· Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo
· Fethard on Sea, Co. Wexford
Welcoming the new service to the Town of Kanturk local Fine Gael Cllr John Paul O’Shea said “Earlier this year, the Government asked An Post to develop the concept of ‘Digital Assist’ whereby the Post Office would provide a gateway to online Government services for people. Government funding of €80,000 has been provided by the Department of Community and Rural Development under the guidance of Minister Michael Ring TD to help with rolling out the Digital Assist pilot scheme. The local Post Office is best placed to provide support for people who do not have the facility to go online to carry out their day to day business. An Post represents the largest retail network in Ireland so it’s network of post offices is the obvious choice as the access point for citizens with its reach.
Debbie Byrne of An Post said “Digital Assist was part of An Post’s ongoing strategy of utilising the national post office network to provide a greater range of services including government and local authority advice and information. ”It makes sense to utilise the national post office network in this way. We are happy to be a trusted partner with Government in delivering this service to customers”.
Cllr. O’ Shea added “This new service is a practical extension of the role that post offices had been filling over many years. Now, Kanturk Post Office will have an easy-to-use system for helping their customers. The people of Kanturk will now be able to navigate government websites and information without having to go any further than their local post office”.
