An Post has launched a new service to provide a fixed address to homeless people and those in temporary accommodation.

It will also act as a mail collection point so people can stay in touch with others and get post relating to things like medical appointments, schools or job applications.

Letters can then be collected by the customer on production of photo ID at the post office of choice.

The service is available in every county in Ireland.

Speaking at the GPO, Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of An Post Retail explained that An Post set out to find a solution that respected people’s privacy, and helped to make their lives a little easier:

“We are keenly aware of the difficulties which can result from people not having a reliable, secure mailing address or letter collection point to access vital services we all take for granted and in looking for a job."

Francis Doherty, Head of Communications at Peter McVerry Trust welcomed the new Address Point service saying:

“This is a personal and practical service that will make a real difference to people’s lives.

"From medical appointments to service applications or keeping in touch with family, having a secure address may seem like a small thing, but it brings huge benefits to people who are homeless and to others living in temporary accommodation”.