Business Postal Services

Who we are

ComReg is the regulator for the postal sector in Ireland. Our vision is of a dynamic and competitive postal market providing consumers with a wide range of competitively priced quality products and services.

In this guide we explain:

the services An Post must provide.
the delivery performance targets An Post is obliged to meet.
when the postal market will be fully opened.
how to access bulk mail services.
the authority ComReg has over postal service providers.
how to give your input on postal matters.

What services must An Post provide?

An Post is Ireland’s universal service provider (USP).This means that An Post is obliged by law to provide certain postal services[1].

ComReg makes sure that An Post meets these obligations, which include:

For everyone and every organisation in the Republic of Ireland: at least one collection and one delivery five days a week for postal items; postal packages and parcels.

For national and international services:

To clear, sort, transport and distribute:

postal items weighing up to 2kgs; and
postal packages weighing up to 20kgs with target delivery times and prices based on published rates;

To provide a number of other services, including:

redirecting post
issuing free certificates of posting
sending books abroad
minding post (Mailminder)
providing free postal service for blind or partially sighted people
business reply and freepost
private boxes or bags.

What is the latest time I can post to make sure the mail is delivered the next working day?

At most postal points the latest time of posting (LTOP) to make sure of next working day delivery nationwide is 5.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

Some posting point locations have an earlier or later posting time than 5.30pm.The time will be displayed at the posting point. We do not regulate the LTOP for business collections.

Does An Post have quality of service performance targets for the delivery of mail?

We set, monitor, publish and enforce quality of service standards in relation to the universal postal service. The performance targets we set for An Post for the delivery of national single piece priority mail are:

94% to be delivered within one working day, and
99.5% to be delivered within three working days.

We publish An Post’s actual performance results every year.

You can see the most recent results on our website www.comreg.ie or the An Post website www.anpost.ie.

Is An Post the only provider of postal services in Ireland?

No. Many other postal service providers operate in Ireland, but they are not obliged to provide specific services. Anyone can set up a postal business to handle any form of postal item as long as they meet certain conditions and do not cover the services reserved to An Post.

Many providers now offer postal services that used to be provided only by An Post.

How can I access bulk mail services?

We define[2] bulk mail as “a substantial number of similar postal items which are deposited with An Post, or any other service provider, at the same place and time, to be conveyed and delivered to the addressees indicated on the items.” An Post offers special rates for any customer mailing between 350-2000 items or 2000+ items for bulk mailings. We have set a condition for An Post to provide full and unconditional bulk mail access at 43 locations in the State for these special rates. The locations are listed on our website and on the An Post website.

What authority has ComReg over postal service providers?

An Post – Universal services

Irish law sets out An Post's obligations on price, quality and choice as the universal service provider. We make sure that An Post meets these obligations. We may issue directions to An Post, after consultation with interested parties, to ensure they comply.

Non-universal services

Our regulatory role is much more limited in regard to these services. We can only make sure that An Post has an adequate complaints procedure and that these services are not subsidised by the universal services.

Non-postal services provided by An Post

We do not regulate these services. They are subject to normal commercial law.

Authorised postal service providers

Postal service providers with an annual turnover of more than €500,000, excluding VAT, must obtain a postal service authorisation from ComReg. Once authorised, postal service providers must:

submit a code of practice covering customer complaints procedures;
make sure that they meet essential requirements, for example: security of mail, protection from loss or damage and so on; and
respect the services reserved to An Post.

You can see the list of authorised postal service providers on our website.