An Post failing to hit accuracy targets

THE level of accurate deliveries by An Post for single-piece priority mail has been measured at 73% - 21% less than the stated target of 94%.

Meanwhile, there was only a 1% year-on-year increase in delivery performance by An Post during 2005.

Fourth quarter performance saw only a 63% success rate nationally. This marked a 4% decline from the corresponding period in the previous year.

The figures formed part of the Commission for Communications Regulation’s (ComReg) third independent annual report on quality of service at An Post.

The survey was conducted by TNS/MRBI and was based on statistical methods set out by European Standards Institute, CEN.

Overall, during the year, mail posted outside of Dublin for next-day delivery in the capital experienced a 68% success rate. Mail posted outside of Dublin for local delivery, meanwhile, recorded a success rate of 76%.

“We’re concerned that quality of service performance is falling well off the target of 945. This is the second successive quarter in which An Post’s quality performance for next-day delivery has fallen by 4%, by comparison with the corresponding quarters in 2004, and eliminates much of the moderate improvement gains in the first half of the year.

“Of particular concern is the quality of service for mail posted outside of Dublin for delivery in the capital,” said ComReg commissioner, Mike Byrne.

Only standard postal services of up to 50g have been reserved to An Post. In accordance with EU law, full market opening is planned for the Irish postal sector by January 2009.