A range of community and voluntary groups met today to plan a campaign to save local post offices from closure.
The post office network is in decline with 500 closures over the last eight years.
The meeting today was organised by the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) and attended by the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Irish Farmers Association, Age Action, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Irish Rural Link and the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.
Speaking at the meeting, IPU general secretary John Kane said there was a clear message coming from the community and voluntary sector that a structured policy to protect the post office network was needed.
"The IPU believes that the local community is an essential part of our social fabric. It is clear that other organisations interested in protecting and developing our connection with community also value the local post office as one of the key ingredients in a community."
Unlike the majority of EU countries, Ireland does not have specific minimum requirements in relation to post office network size and coverage, Mr Kane said, warning that unless steps were taken, the network would collapse "by default" over the next few years.
"The absence of a policy position by the Government, and a structured approach by An Post, are two of the main threats to the current network," he said.
The IPU is calling for the Government and An Post to decide on what size, distribution and quality of network should be available to the public and to carry out any planned closures on a planned and voluntary basis.
They also stressed the need for post offices to be computerised and adequately resourced and for a commitment from Government to the post office as the provider for the delivery of social welfare payments.
At the meeting the IPU took input and feedback from the groups on a draft position paper
The Social Value of Local Post Offices and the Need to Protect their Future.