An Post Disputes ComReg Quality Figures

30 May 2003

Since 1998 PriceWaterhouseCoopers have independently measured the performance of mails delivery in Ireland. This monitor, commissioned by An Post, shows our domestic quality of service performance for the first three months of 2003 at 87 per cent.

This figure is four percentage points down on the same period last year and reflects the impact of major operational changes including investment in new equipment, systems and infrastructure, and introducing a series of wide ranging cost reduction initiatives. Against this backdrop, some short term impact on quality of service is to be expected.

In response to a directive from the EU, the International Postal Corporation (IPC), has since 1996, independently monitored the performance of international mail also delivered through the normal Irish domestic mail system. The IPC monitor shows a performance of just over 90% for the same period.

The two monitors comply with the most stringent European standards and guidelines. The results reported by the monitors for Quarter 1, 2003 record next day delivery performance of the Irish mails delivery in the range 87 to 90%

The result from the Comreg monitor is at variance with the results reported from two independent monitors. As Comreg have not yet shared the detail of the results with An Post, it is difficult to comment on the cause of the variance. It is known, however, that the performance reported by the ComReg monitor, which has only recently been established, is based on a more limited range of mail types than the other monitors.

The fact that it excludes some 30% of the mail types handled by An Post overall – particularly business mail - coupled with the relatively immature nature of the monitoring system and network makes proper comparison difficult.