An Post will seek judicial review of refusal on price hikes

The High Court has allowed An Post to seek a Judicial Review of a refusal by ComReg to increase the price for standard domestic letter stamp.

An Post’s application to raise price from 48 cent to 60 cent was dismissed and the company is now asking the High Court to quash ComReg’s decision and to order it to approve the price increase.

An Post has predicted losses in excess of €20m in 2006 following the ComReg decision not to allow the hike.

In addition, the postal company wants a declaration from the court that its Universal Service Obligation must be taken into account in the future when they seek price increases.

The USO is the scheme under which An Post delivers mail to every premises in the country five days a week.