An Post have launched a mobile data sharing network that will allow homeless people to communicate with others and access services more easily.
The company will donate 18,000GB of data from An Post's mobile network to five charities which help the homeless in Ireland through The Shared Network initiative.
The initiative aims to help homeless people get connected and get back on their feet.
A spokesperson for An Post said: "Although many of Ireland’s homeless have phones, few can afford data all the time.
"The Shared Network from An Post will facilitate more reliable communication and connection for Ireland’s homeless community."
The data will be distributed across 2,000 SIM cards which will be given to five national charities to give to their clients.
The charities which are working in partnership with The Shared Network are Dublin Simon Community, Focus Ireland, Peter McVerry Trust, St Vincent De Paul and Merchants Quay Ireland.
And An Post have pledged to donate a further 1GB of data for every new customer that joins An Post Mobile until the end of 2020.
Existing customers can also donate to The Shared Network when they top up.
An Post will also match all data donations received by the end of March 2020 with a minimum donation of a further 18,000GB of data guaranteed.
Pat Dennighan, CEO, Focus Ireland said, “The Shared Network will make a real difference to people’s lives.
"From keeping in touch with family to searching the web for a new home to rent, it is a practical initiative that will make a real difference.”
An Post will also make a donation from the sales of €19 booklets of 20 Christmas stamps to a fund which will be shared between charities working with the homeless and those in temporary accommodation.
Based on anticipated sales, An Post expects the donation to homeless charities to be a minimum of €150,000.
