An Post has moved to assure customers that delays which resulted in the non-delivery of post in time for Christmas last year, will not happen again this Christmas.
Last year the installation of new processing equipment in the weeks running up to the busy Christmas posting period meant teething troubles with the machinery were not eliminated in time. Mail which was posted within the company's deadlines was not delivered in time while some mail was delivered without being franked. The Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, has written to the chairwoman, Ms Margaret McGinley, and the chief executive, Mr Donal Curtin, to express concern that the company get its Christmas post out in time.
Mr Ahern said he was concerned that the problems, particularly in relation to the franking issue, appeared to be happening again. And he asked for an assurance, particularly in the light of the company's costly restructuring plan, that all mail would be handled correctly.
According to a company spokesman yesterday "the Minister has been assured that the problems which occurred last year will not recur".
Meanwhile, the spokesman said the company investigation into allegations that Mr Liam Lawlor was able to have an address changed from Clondalkin to Lucan in the mid-1990s, in return for a bribe, was continuing.
The investigation which is now a month old would be "thorough" he said and would involved all who could possibly influence the decision on postal designation.
He could not, however, say how many people were being interviewed or how long the investigation would take.
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