Vol. 404 No. 6
28 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications if he has received any proposals from An Post which involves increases in postal charges; if he will outline the reply he has given to this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
31 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline the increases in postal charges which he envisages in 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 31 together.
As Deputies will be aware, An Post made a loss of £3.6 million in 1989. The company has incurred an even greater loss in 1990. A plan to raise revenue and cut costs and so secure the future viability of An Post is in preparation. I understand that the plan will be put before the board of An Post in a matter of days.
In the context of such a plan, I recently indicated to An Post that I am prepared to approve proposals for certain increases in postal charges. I have still to give my formal consent to the necessary statutory schemes to be made by the company. In the circumstances and as other procedural requirements have still to be complied with, I am not now in a position to indicate the scale of the price increases. In accordance with normal practice details of the increases will be announced by An Post as soon as possible.
