An Post 'doing everything possible' to cover extra Christmas deliveries after Fastway collapse

An Post warned that it may not have the capacity to service all requests from new business. File photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

An Post says that it is "doing everything possible" to meet additional Christmas delivery demand caused by the collapse of Fastway Couriers.

Nuvion Group, the parent company of Fastway and Parcel Connect, went into receivership last month, directly impacting some 300 workers and close to 700 subcontractors and franchise delivery workers who were left in limbo.

On top of that, Fastway handled 25 million parcels annually. Just two years ago, it invested €5m in its depot in Little Island in Cork — the second-largest courier base in the country.

Oireachtas Transport Committee chair Michael Murphy raised concerns on Friday that An Post "may struggle to accommodate the sudden influx of new customers following the closure of a major delivery firm during the busiest and most important time of the year".

He said he is very concerned as An Post’s Christmas peak operations and staffing plans were finalised months ago, based on expected record volumes from existing customers as well as those who had been using Fastway.

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"It is essential that An Post takes every feasible step to expand capacity and ensure that the magic of the season is not disrupted for families across Ireland," he said.

“The children of Ireland can’t be let down. Every effort must be made to ensure that Santa’s helpers in the postal system have the resources they need to get every parcel, card and Christmas surprise to the right home in time."

An Post said this is "by far the busiest period of the year for e-commerce parcel deliveries" with volumes expected to increase over 25% on this time last year from existing customers alone. A spokesperson said An Post "has been investing in new facilities and planning for Christmas ‘Peak’ all year".

The spokesperson said investments in sorting facilities had been made to ensure the Christmas period can be catered for.

An Post and its staff across the country always go the extra mile to ensure delivery for all letters and parcels posted in time for Christmas, and this year will be no different.

"For example, we have doubled our parcel sorting capacity in Athlone Mails Centre with the installation of new parcel processing technology, similar to that already operating at our Portlaoise and Dublin parcel hubs. 

"We expect to handle up to three million parcels each week nationally in the lead-up to Christmas. We have also hired 1,000 seasonal staff across the country this year to assist with peak volumes of parcels and Christmas cards."

An Post warned that it may not have the capacity to service all requests from new business. "It’s simply a matter of capacity," a statement said.