Sir, – A reader’s letter (January 17th) suggests discounted “Advent” stamps. The 2023 Christmas 22-stamp booklets were available in post offices and online from November 1st and provided a whopping €5 discount to customers who also received two free Irish-designed and produced Christmas cards with every booklet.
An Post receives no State subsidies or grants. We have to cover the real cost of providing sustainable collection and delivery services, and the national stamp costs the same for everyone, regardless of where they live or work or to where on the island they wish to post a letter. We are firmly against the evils of “gig” economy and proud to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions and opportunities for all our employees.
Even when the stamp price increases to €1.40 on February 1st, it will be well below the European average of €1.73 for a quality next-day letter service. Existing national “N” stamps automatically increase in value on that date – no need to add more postage when you use them – and that’s another benefit for the customer.
With regards to the letter of the same date concerning a delayed card from Northern Ireland, I suspect that the card sender may have used a first-class or second-class British stamp, neither of which cover postage from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland, and which result in delayed delivery (or even return to sender). Royal Mail stipulates that their international stamp be used for such postage.
Finally, the question about eircodes – and we are all for eircodes – An Post technology uses them for processing mail. For delivery, however, a full postal address is required. Our busy postwomen and postmen have no spare time to be checking individual eircodes on the several hundred letters and parcels they deliver each day. A full correct address every time please! – Yours, etc,
ANNA McHUGH,
Head of Corporate Communications,
An Post,
Dublin 1.